Anglican Church May Value Hindsight

By Joanne McCarthy
Newcastle Herald
November 8, 2013

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1896439/anglican-church-may-value-hindsight/?cs=12

ANGLICANS across Australia will be ‘‘disappointed’’ with the church as the royal commission exposes child sexual abuse at the North Coast Children’s Home, Newcastle Anglican Bishop Administrator Peter Stuart says.

‘‘They will wonder why we [the church] made these decisions and quite rightly they’ll be listening to the way the royal commission investigates these practices,’’ he said yesterday, almost a year since the royal commission was announced by then Prime Minister Julia Gillard on November 12, 2012.

It was ‘‘an important royal commission, making it clear to the wider community that child sexual abuse is not acceptable in the community’’.

It occurred ‘‘in places we thought we could trust, including the church’’.

He encouraged victims to speak to the royal commission, or make contact with the diocese’s professional standards unit on 1800 774945.

Bishop Stuart said he was not aware if a victim of convicted child sex offender priest Allan Kitchingman had received an apology from the diocese, but ‘‘I am certainly open to talking with them’’.

The diocese had received summonses to appear at the commission and produce documents, he said.

The diocese’s professional standards director, who is also professional standards director of Grafton diocese, is expected to give evidence.

Asked if evidence about child sexual abuse within the church had affected him personally, Bishop Stuart said it had.

‘‘What I know is that with 21st century eyes there are many things we wouldn’t do now that we did then.

‘‘I wish we were doing back then what we’re doing now.’’