Newcastle Anglican Bishop Brian Farran has today stripped the holy orders from three priests and one lay person, and prohibited another priest from his position for five years, over sexual misconduct.
Andrew Duncan, Bruce Hoare and Graeme Lawrence were all deposed from holy orders as well as Greg Goyette, a lay person who will not be able to hold any lay office.
Graeme Sturt has also been removed from his position as rector of Cardiff and will be prohibited from the ministry for five years.
The decision is in line with a diocese professional standards board recommendation from 2010.
” The Professional Standards Board in open hearings considered some very disturbing material and determined that some of the respondents engaged in serious sexual misconduct including misconduct when the complainant was a child.” said Bishop Farren in a statement today.
“The respondents breached pastoral responsibility to a person or people in their care. The Board determined that each of them failed to report the misconduct when they were legally obliged to do so.”
What a Wonderful day !! Thank you Dr Farran
Dr Farran should be widely commended for his bravery. A very difficult decision made in the face of enormous pressure from Lawrence and Co’s misguided and self interested supporters. In the end, the only just decision that could be made, which hopefully, brings an end to an era of abuse and silence that the Church should be rightly ashamed of
It is fantastic to see decency win… it is rare and takes some courage!!! God Bless you Bishop Farran!!!!
It’s about 35 years too late these men were doing damage on the seventies.
Nonsense.these men are innocent and the truth will come out