Former Governor-General and Anglican archbishop Peter Hollingworth, whose career was clouded by his handling of child abuse in the church, has died aged 91. Source: News.com.au.
Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Jeremy Greaves confirmed Dr Hollingworth died in Melbourne yesterday.
In a statement, he said the Church sent “its condolences to his family”.
“Bishop Hollingworth served as the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years from 1990 and was a vocal advocate for the poor and underprivileged,” he said.
Born in Adelaide in 1935, Dr Hollingworth moved with his family to Victoria in 1940 and was ordained in 1960.
He joined the anti-poverty organisation Brotherhood of St Laurence in 1964 and during his 25 years there spent time as its executive director.
In 1989, he was elected the eighth Archbishop of Brisbane before being appointed the 23rd Governor-General of Australia in 2001.
However, an Anglican Church inquiry later found he failed to remove paedophile priests Donald Shearman and John Elliot from the ministry in Brisbane in the 1990s, despite knowing they had sexually abused children.
In May 2003, Dr Hollingworth quit due to the “continuing public controversy” on his ability to “uphold the importance, dignity and integrity” of his position.
In 2016, he testified at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and told a victim-survivor he was “extremely sorry that the church and I failed to protect you”.
The commission ultimately found Dr Hollingworth made a “serious error of judgment” in allowing John Elliot, who admitted abusing two boys, to remain in the ministry.
Dr Hollingworth accepted the findings and apologised.
Archbishop Greaves also acknowledged Dr Hollingworth’s controversies in his statement, saying the Church acknowledged “with deep regret the past failings” of the church.
“Anglican Church of Southern Queensland apologises unreservedly to those who have suffered abuse, distress, isolation and harm caused by the Church’s failure to respond with integrity and care when it was needed most,” he said.
In 2023, Dr Hollingworth stopped practising as an Anglican priest.
He is survived by his three daughters — Deborah, Fiona and Sarah — and four grandchildren. His wife Ann died in April 2021.
FULL STORY
Former governor-general and Anglican bishop Peter Hollingworth dies aged 91 (By Angie Raphael, News.com.au)
Peter Hollingworth: A legacy of faith and flaws (The Australian)
