An Australian bishop was reduced to tears over having to defrock a priest accused of sexual abuse because he was worried about the "effect it would have on the parishioners", a royal commission has heard.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is currently hearing evidence from an abuse survivor identified only as CKH. He described his abuse as "a gross abuse of trust, selfish and thoughtless."
He told the committee hearing that after a church body investigated his allegations against a number of clergy, including the former Dean of Newcastle Graeme Lawrence, it was recommended that Lawrence and two others, church deacon Andrew Duncan and priests Bruce Hoare, be defrocked.
However, CKH said then Bishop Brian Farran visited him in 2012 and cried over the situation.
According to ABC, CKH told the hearing: "He was in tears about the difficulty of his decision, and the effect it would have on the parishioners. He was concerned about parish members and their faith, and how it would affect them in attending the church."
All three clergy were formally defrocked that year.
The royal commission is investigating how the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle responded to allegations of child sex abuse in the church. It is currently in the midst of a two-week session during which a series of graphic and highly disturbing examples of sexual abuse have been discussed.
In a recent hearing, a devastating story of mass child rape emerged, perpetrated by an Anglican paedophile ring led by Rev Peter Rushton, an Anglican priest who was Archdeacon of Maitland and who died in 2007.
Today, CKH said his "experiences of the church Professional Standards procedures have been consistently helpful and supportive."
"I've been able to tell my story and always been believed," he told the hearing. "That has been very helpful for me."
When questioned by Lawrence's lawyer about the validity of his claims against the former dean, CKH said: "I have come here to speak the truth. It is the truth, and I feel I have been very brave to speak out about what Lawrence did to me."
According to the Associated Press, Farran will give evidence at the hearing, and Lawrence has been added to the witness list.
