Fed: Hollingworth to deny abuse cover-up
BRISBANE, Feb 18 AAP - Governor-General Peter Hollingworth will tonight deny new allegationshe covered up sexual abuse cases while he was Archbishop of Brisbane.
The ABC's Australian Story interviewed Dr Hollingworth yesterday to allow him to respondto allegations against him featured in the Nine Network's Sunday program.
The Sunday program yesterday revealed claims Dr Hollingworth dismissed sex abuse allegationsagainst a senior priest who he later appointed to the church's sexual abuse committee.
Dr Hollingworth had also tried to discourage the sexual abuse victim of another priestfrom going to the police, an unnamed man told the program.
The new allegations follow reports yesterday that Dr Hollingworth was allegedly toldof sexual abuse claims against an Anglican bishop but failed to take action because thebishop was "much valued".
In a statement issued last night, the ABC said Dr Hollingworth denied any cover upon Australian Story.
"The Governor-General denied the allegations which were broadcast on Channel Nine'sSunday program and also those which were in The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday," shesaid.
"The Governor-General insisted he will not be resigning."
The program was recorded two weeks ago and Dr Hollingworth was to respond to allegationsagainst him in a case which initially sparked the furore.
Last December a 24-year-old woman was awarded a $834,000 payout from the Anglican Dioceseof Brisbane.
The court found she had been sexually abused by a senior boarding master, who latercommitted suicide, while she was a pupil at the Toowoomba Preparatory School in 1990.
Dr Hollingworth was accused of staging a cover-up but in a statement said legal adviceand insurance considerations had prevented him from expressing compassion for the victims.
Supporters of Dr Hollingworth have said recent criticisms reflect a variety of agendas,including a bid to undermine the vice-regal office.
The new Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, Phillip Aspinall, said he may investigatehis predecessor's handling of sex abuse allegations.
"Archbishop Hollingworth is no longer a priest resident in the Diocese of Brisbane,but insofar as he was archbishop here if people have concerns about that then, yes, Iwould look into them," he told the Sunday program.
AAP ch/jmd/sb
KEYWORD: HOLLINGWORTH DAYLEAD
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