Former governor-general and retired Anglican bishop Peter Hollingworth has died at the age of 91.
Hollingsworth served as the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years from 1990.
He served as governor-general between 2001 and 2003, and resigned amid controversy of his handling of child abuse in the church.
The Anglican Church of Southern Queensland said in a statement it sent its condolences to Hollingworth’s family and acknowledged with “deep regret the past failings of the church”.
“In 2003 a Board of Inquiry into the handling of Complaints of Sexual Abuse in the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane found that, as Archbishop, Hollingworth failed to act on knowledge of sexual abuse and allowed two clergy to remain in the Church, despite knowing they had sexually assaulted children,” the church said.
“The Board of Inquiry also found that Bishop Hollingworth had not handled a complaint from Beth Heinrich regarding the conduct of Donald Shearman ‘fairly, reasonably or appropriately’.
“Anglican Church of Southern Queensland acknowledges 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.”
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