AUSTRALIA
The Advertiser
NIGEL HUNT ANALYSIS THE ADVERTISER MARCH 17, 2015
THE foul stench of child sexual abuse by the clergy has already cost one archbishop his job in South Australia.
In 2004, Anglican Archbishop Ian George resigned in the aftermath of a report that criticised the handling of such allegations under his stewardship.
Although there was absolutely no suggestion he had broken any church rules or laws of the state, he carried the can and bore the brunt of an avalanche of public criticism towards the church, which started at the top with then-premier Mike Rann and flowed through to his own parishioners.
In the end, he had no choice but to put his hands up. Unlike his predecessors, he didn’t retire with respect and dignity, but ended his career in a sad, bitter fashion, unhappy at being the scapegoat for those who had tarnished his church.
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