Anglikanen Australie: Archbishop apologises for ‘repugnant’ abuse

Tuesday, 8 Apr 2008
by Jane Still

A report into the treatment of children in state care in South Australia has prompted a renewed apology to victims of abuse by the Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide.

“I acknowledge, with deep regret, that some of that abuse occurred in institutions run by the Anglican Church in South Australia,” said Archbishop Jeffrey Driver, repeating “without reservation” an apology previously issued to victims of sexual abuse in the diocese. “I support the Premier’s commitment to apologise. Sexual abuse is always intolerable. When it is perpetrated by a person holding a sacred trust it is particularly repugnant.”

Archbishop Driver said he supported all 54 recommendations of the inquiry, which include various moves to broaden the Children’s Protection Act in South Australia, and a public education campaign to educate the community about child sexual abuse.

The six hundred-page inquiry was conducted by Commissioner Ted Mullighan QC, and began in 2004. Nearly two thousand people provided evidence to the inquiry on child abuse or child protection issues, of whom 792 people said they had been sexually abused as a child in South Australia. The Anglican Church was among a number of denominations named in allegations of abuse whilst in institutional care.

Acknowledging a “joint, residual responsibility” for past acts of child abuse committed by employees of the Anglican Church in South Australia, and Anglicare SA, Archbishop Driver said the institutions would continue to ensure that people involved in their activities were safe.

“We will work together to make sure that any outstanding issue of abuse of people in the care of our institutions is addressed promptly,” he said. “As a Church we have learnt that timely practical and pastoral support is an essential part of supporting victims and survivors. We acknowledge the failures of the past and we have in place a system to ensure people’s safety.”