AUSTRALIA
Mercury
PATRICK BILLINGS, Mercury
November 29, 2016
A FAR-REACHING paedophile ring, involving victims and predators from Tasmania, was active within an offshoot of the Anglican Church, Royal Commission lawyers have alleged in a damning submission.
Counsel assisting the commission Naomi Sharp has also recommended the actions of former Tasmanian Bishop Philip Newell be found to have helped cover up allegations against a serial paedophile priest.
The Anglican Diocese of Tasmania has rejected the proposed finding against Bishop Newell, who was the church’s Tasmanian bishop from 1982 until he retired in 2000.
Its lawyer Neil Clelland, QC, called on the commission to extend Bishop Newell a greater level of “understanding” which it had granted other church officials.
The landmark Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse held public hearings in Hobart earlier this year.
Under the microscope was the diocese and the Church of England Boys’ Society (CEBS) – a scout-like organisation connected to the Anglican Church.
One of Tasmania’s worst paedophiles Lou Daniels, a former Burnie archdeacon, was a prominent member of CEBS.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.