The Rt Rev'd Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE

The Right Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE (born April 10, 1935), Australian bishop and 23rd Governor-General of Australia, became the first Governor-General to resign his office as a result of criticism of his conduct, when on 28 May 2003 he resigned following the release of an Anglican Church report finding that he had mishandled allegations of sexual abuse by Anglican priests during his tenure as Archbishop of Brisbane. Government portrait of Peter Hollingworth File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Government portrait of Peter Hollingworth File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established by Queen Elizabeth II on February 14, 1975 for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service. The Order includes three classes in general and military divisions, in descending order of... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in decreasing order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand... April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... á 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Michael Jeffery, Governor-General of Australia The Governor-General of Australia is the representative in Australia of Australias head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, who lives in the United Kingdom. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... Brisbane is the capital city of the state of Queensland, Australia. ...

Early life and career

Peter Hollingworth was born in Adelaide, South Australia before moving to Melbourne as a boy. After attending state primary schools, he was educated at Scotch College. After completing his secondary education he began work for BHP, an Australian mining company. Hollingworth apparently often spent his lunch hours in the local Anglican church, and at this point the idea of becoming a priest was first suggested to him. Adelaide is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia. ... Motto: United for the Common Wealth Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Governor Premier Const. ... City of Melbourne Local Government Area State Victoria Lord Mayor John So (since 2001) Area 36 km² Population (2001) 57,960 Density 1,601/km² (1999) Greater Melbourne Subdivisions Local Government Areas Area 7,694 km² (1999) Population 2001 census (2nd in Australia) 3,555,321 Density 462. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ...

Conscripted for "National Service" in 1953, Hollingworth began work in the Chaplain's Office, and decided to become a priest. He attended the University of Melbourne, living at Trinity College, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Licentiate of Theology. Hollingworth was ordained a deacon, then the priest in charge of St Mary's, a church in North Melbourne. In 1964, he joined the Brotherhood of St Laurence, an Anglican charity which helps the disadvantaged, ultimately rising to the position of Executive Director and spending 25 years with the Brotherhood. 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The University of Melbourne   The Old Quad Building, formerly Old Law The University of Melbourne, located in Melbourne, in Victoria, is the second oldest university in Australia, behind the University of Sydney, and is one of the countrys most prestigious universities. ... 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about the sacrament. ... Deacon is a role in the Christian Church which is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. ... Roman Catholic priest LCDR Allen R. Kuss (USN) aboard USS Enterprise A priest or priestess is a holy man or woman who takes an officiating role in worship of any religion, with the distinguishing characteristic of offering sacrifices. ...

In 1976 Hollingworth was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and in 1988 he became an officer of the Order of Australia (OA) for this work. As well as these secular honours, he was elected as a canon of St Paul's Cathedral in 1980 and consecrated a bishop for the Inner City in 1985. During this time, he completed a Master of Arts in Social Work, and wrote several books about his work with the poor. He is a member of the Melbourne Club. 1976 (MCMLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in decreasing order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established by Queen Elizabeth II on February 14, 1975 for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service. The Order includes three classes in general and military divisions, in descending order of... A canon (from the Latin canonicus and Greek κανωνικωσ relating to a rule) is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to a rule (canon). ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ...

In 1989, Hollingworth was elected Archbishop of Brisbane, after winning a tightly-contested election for the position. During the 1990s, the Anglican Church in Queensland, like many other churches around the world at the time, was beset by problems with sexual misconduct (ranging from breaches of the church's own rules to criminal paedophilia). Hollingworth's handling of these issues as the administrator of Queensland's Anglicans would later give rise to much controversy. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop heading a diocese of particular importance due to either its size, history, or both, called an archdiocese. ... Brisbane is the capital city of the state of Queensland, Australia. ... It has been suggested that Childlover be merged into this article or section. ...

Governor-General

The Queen appointed Hollingworth Governor-General of Australia on the recommendation of Prime Minister John Howard in May 2001. Following the announcement of his appointment, Hollingworth stated that although he would retain his Holy Orders, as Governor-General he would not use the title "Bishop" knowing that some Australians might have difficulty with such a term of address. He also announced that he would not wear a clerical collar in the course of his vice-regal duties. Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, in 1952 and 2002 The title Queen of Australia has existed since 1973, when the Parliament of Australia passed the Royal Style and Titles Act (1973). ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and 25th Prime Minister, came to office on 11 March 1996, and was re-elected in 1998, 2001 and 2004, making him the most electorally successful Prime Minister since Sir Robert Menzies. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Clerical clothing is non-liturgical clothing worn exclusively by clergy. ... A viceroy is somebody who governs a country or province as a substitute for the monarch. ...

On 21 May 2001 Hollinworth was awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt Cantuar) by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey. Hollingworth was awarded the doctorate in recognition of his research, publication, teaching and achievement in the field of Christian social ethics, social welfare and episcopal leadership. Although Hollingworth did not submit a thesis for this award, it is a legally recognised degree, not honorary, and confers the title of "Dr". Lambeth degrees are awarded by the Archbishop of Canterbury, under the authority of the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533 (25 Hen VIII c 21) (Eng). ... A Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree. ... Arms of the see of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior clergyman of the established Church of England and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... The Right Reverend and Right Honourable George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton, PC (born 13 November 1935), was the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury, from 1991 to 2002. ... A doctorate is an academic degree of the highest level. ...

On 29 June Hollingworth was sworn-in as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force. The appointment of a clergyman, and specifically Hollingworth, as Governor-General attracted substantial controversy and some negative comment. Sir William Deane, his predecessor, had been popular with political opponents of the Howard government for his comments on social issues. Howard and conservatives in the media believed that Deane's outspokenness had been inappropriate. June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ...

There was negative comment on the choice of a bishop to such an important secular office. While some in the conservative press welcomed his appointment, expecting him to be less outspoken on social issues than Deane, others argued that Hollingworth could not divorce himself from his religious role and that such a combination of religious and secular authority was inappropriate in Australia, a secular country. Hollingworth's personal qualities were also questioned, for instance in the Canberra Times where he was described as "the vainest man in Australia". There was also disappointment that a woman was not appointed to the office. The Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by a local family called the Shakesperes. ...

Controversy over sexual abuse in the Brisbane Diocese

In 2001 allegations emerged in a civil case that Hollingworth had failed to act when confronted with stories of child abuse at a school in Toowoomba, Queensland. In the case, the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane was ordered to pay a record $834,000 in damages to a former pupil who suffered on going abuse at the school.

Following the case, in December 2001, The Sunday Mail newspaper reported calls from anti-child abuse campaigner Hetty Johnston for the resignation of Hollingworth from his then positon as Governor General.

On 14 December 2001 612 ABC Brisbane broadcast a story which included an interview by psychologist Joy Conolly also calling for Hollingworth to resign. Conolly had given evidence in the civil case and repeated her claim Hollingworth had done nothing when confronted with allegations of child abuse. 612 ABC Brisbane (callsign, 4QR) is an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio station in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ...

In the radio report Conolly recalled the then Archbishop saying: "There's nothing I can do about it, absolutely nothing I can do about it', and I said 'Please can't you ring them and offer them some comfort', and he said 'I'm tired, I'm stressed, I need a holiday'."

The report by Michael Lund was highly commended in the 2002 Walkley Awards. Michael Lund is an Australian journalist trained in print, radio, television and on-line. ... The Walkley Awards are an Australian literary award given out annually. ...

The Conolly allegation was later denied by Hollingworth in a statement, although he did say that part of his response was constrained by concerns over pending legal action and a need to limit inforation bases on concerns from the Diocise insurers. Hollingworth saying: "I am sorry that legal and insurance considerations to some extent inhibited our taking a more active role and more overtly expressing the Church's concern for the physical, emotional and spiritual welfare of those affected..."

However, on 17 February 2002 allegations that Hollingworth, as Archbishop of Brisbane, had attempted to cover up several instances of sexual abuse, were aired on the Channel Nine Sunday current affairs program in a story Governor-General: Fit to Govern?. February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Most of the allegations were about the handling of a case in a Toowoomba school where a staff member abused at least two boarders. Hetty Johnston, leader of an organisation supporting victims of child abuse, was instrumental in bringing the issues to the attention of the media, and was vociferous in criticising Hollingworth and called for his resignation. Map of Toowoomba Ruthven Street Looking South City Skyline From Neil Street City CBD Looking South Toowoomba City Hall The Royal Bulls Head Inn Grand Central Shopping Centre The Empire Theatre Condamine Centre Heritage Plaza Cottesloe Crest Toowoomba (affectionately known as Australias garden city) is a city and...

The next day, Hollingworth appeared on Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Australian Story television program and gave a lengthy interview. In it, he discussed the media criticisms and some of the cases mentioned, expressing his sympathy for the victims of abuse, discussing the restrictions that the legal situation and his responsibilities to the Church organisation placed on his ability to publicly sympathise with the victims, and discussing the personal pressures he was under at the time. Most attention from the interview was directed at comments he made about one case, where a priest had sexually abused a 14-year-old girl: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australias national public broadcaster. ... Australian Story is a weekly biography programme, produced and broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, that portrays the lives of significant Australians. ...

"The great tragedy about this situation is that the genesis of it was 40 years ago and it occurred between a young priest and a teenage girl who was under the age of consent," Hollingworth said. "I believe she was more than 14. And I also understand that many years later in adult life, their relationship resumed and it was partly a pastoral relationship and it was partly something more. My belief is that this was not sex abuse. There was no suggestion of rape or anything like that. Quite the contrary, my information is that it was, rather, the other way around. And I don't want to say any more than that."

This comment led to further public and media criticism of Hollingworth. The Melbourne newspaper The Age called for Hollingworth's resignation, and opinion polls indicated that a large majority of Australians agreed. Opposition Leader Simon Crean echoed these calls, citing Hollingworth's "serious errors of judgement" and referring to what he viewed as the lack of support for the governor-general in the community and the damage that the controversy was causing to the office. The Age is a broadsheet daily newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. ... Hon Simon Crean Simon Findlay Crean (born 26 February 1949) is an Australian politician. ...

The situation was unprecedented in Australia: the removal of a Governor-General for reasons of personal conduct had not been contemplated in the past. Howard, who in practice had virtually sole discretion on the Governor-General's continued appointment, rejected calls for Hollingworth to be removed or resign. He said that he believed that while Hollingworth may have made "errors of judgement", he saw no evidence that he had been "soft on child abuse".

Meanwhile, Hollingworth's successor as Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr Phillip Aspinall, instituted a church board of inquiry into the diocese's handling of sexual abuse complaints. The enquiry examined the written records of the Church's actions, as well as seeking sworn statements from Hollingworth and other church officials. To allow the public release and discussion of the final report, the Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie, tabled the report in the Queensland Parliament in May 2003. Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Nickname: Sunshine State/Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Governor Premier Const. ... Peter Beattie Peter Douglas Beattie (born November 18, 1952), Australian politician, is the Premier of the Australian State of Queensland and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The report examined the handling of nine complaints of sexual abuse during Hollingworth's time as Archbishop. In the majority of cases, the board concluded that his actions were appropriate. On the Toowoomba case, the board found that Hollingworth's actions "could not be criticised", as he had been entitled to assume on the information available that the Headmaster and the School Council were handling the matter properly.

Hollingworth was however criticised for his lack of expression of compassion towards the victims. In one case, where Hollingworth chose not to apologise on behalf of the church to the victim of abuse (the 14-year-old girl mentioned previously), the board considered that "there must have been a way in which Dr Hollingworth could have provided some compassionate recognition of the wrong which the Complainant had suffered."

The handling of another complaint, one that had not attracted as much media attention until the report was released, contained much more serious criticism of Hollingworth's actions. In this case, John Elliot, a church worker who later became a priest, had sexually abused a number of boys. Hollingworth interviewed Elliot, who confessed to the offences. After referring the priest to a psychiatrist, and discussing the matter with two bishops, Hollingworth allowed Elliot to continue in the ministry, under the condition that he avoid situations dealing with children and young people and be supervised by his wife.

In this case, the board made very serious criticisms of Hollingworth, stating that he had "apparently reconstructed what he believed he was told, rather than recalled what in fact was said", and that "even if the abuse had been an isolated incident", that "no Bishop acting responsibly could have reached the decision to continue a known paedophile in the ministry". It further described Hollingworth's decision, whilst "made in good faith", as "untenable."

The reaction to the release of the report was another round of denunciation of Holligworth in the media. While some commentators said that Hollingworth was being subjected to a witch-hunt, most newspapers called for his resignation. Several ministers in the Howard government suggested that the Hollingworth should "follow his own conscience," suggesting that they wanted him to resign.

Meanwhile, in December 2002, a civil suit had been lodged in the Victorian Supreme court by Rosemary Ann Jarmyn seeking compensation from Hollingworth and several church organisations. Jarmyn claimed that she had been raped at a church youth camp in Bendigo, a Victorian country town, in the early 1960s by a man she later identified as Hollingworth, from a photograph of him taken around that time in a church newsletter. Jarmyn sought, and obtained, a suppression order on the case, and Hollingworth concurred. Hollingworth told Howard of the allegation at the time, as Howard later confirmed. Jarmyn committed suicide in April 2003, but the case went on with her family as plaintiffs. 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bendigo is a large regional town in central Victoria, Australia, located in the City of Greater Bendigo. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The case became public knowledge when an Opposition politician, Lindsay Tanner, asked in Parliament whether there were any civil cases pending against the Governor-General. Hollingworth then made a public statement saying that he had never raped anyone and had not been in Bendigo at the time. Church colleagues supported Hollingworth's denial. In the face of specific denials of Hollingworth and witnesses, the Jarmyn family's solicitors dropped the case. Lindsay Tanner Lindsay James Tanner (born 24 April 1956), Australian politician, has been a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1993, representing the Division of Melbourne, Victoria. ...

On 11 May, Hollingworth and Howard held private discussions. Howard then announced that Hollingworth would "stand aside" while the rape allegations were dealt with, and that no decision would be made on his long-term future until they were dealt with. The senior state Governor, Sir Guy Green of Tasmania, became Administrator (acting Governor-General) until Hollingworth's final resignation on 28 May 2003. After leaving office Hollingworth resumed volunteer pastoral work with the Anglican Church. May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (132nd in leap years). ... The Governors of the Australian states are the representatives in the six states of Australia of Australias head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governors perform the same constitutional and ceremonial functions in the states as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level. ... Sir Guy Green was the Governor of Tasmania from 1995 to 2003. ... Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Nickname: The Apple Isle Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Governor Premier Const. ... The title Administrator of the Government (Administrator) has two uses in Australia. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ...

External links

• The report by the Board of Inquiry

Sir William Deane Sir William Patrick Deane, KBE, PC, AC (born 4 January 1931), Australian judge and 22nd Governor-General of Australia, was born in Melbourne, Victoria. ... Michael Jeffery, Governor-General of Australia The Governor-General of Australia is the representative in Australia of Australias head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, who lives in the United Kingdom. ... H.E. Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC His Excellency Major General Philip Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC (Retd) (born 12 December 1937), 24th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Wiluna, Western Australia and was educated at state schools in Perth. ... Fred Hollows Frederick Cossom (Fred) Hollows, (April 9, 1929 - February 10, 1993) was born in Dunedin, New Zealand and became a world famous ophthalmologist, particularly for his work in restoring eyesight for countless thousands of Aborigines in Australia and people in many other countries. ... The Australian of the Year Awards commenced in 1960. ... Mandawuy Yunupingu (b. ...

Governors-General of Australia
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