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AUSTRALIA: Letters shock interim Anglican head
ABC News
The interim head of South Australia's Anglican Church, Archdeacon John Collas, says he is shocked at details of correspondence between former Archbishop Ian George and disgraced former St Peter's College chaplain John Mountford.
Copies of the correspondence have been leaked to the ABC.
The Reverend Mountford was sacked from the college in 1992 after allegedly molesting a student and until recently worked at St Stephen's School in Bangkok, but is believed to have fled to Cambodia.
In the letters, Dr George writes to Reverend Mountford saying he is glad Reverend Mountford was not subjected to the humiliation and the public spectacle of media attention in his case.
"I am glad that you were not subjected to the pain, the humiliation and the public spectacle which the media would have relished in your case," he writes in the letter.
One of the letters is dated the March 31 1993, the year after Reverend Mountford fled Australia over allegations he sexual molested a St Peter's student.
In the letter Dr George tells Reverend Mountford: "You will see that I have done everything I can both to support you, and preserve your reputation."
Furthermore, Dr George writes: "There is every likelihood that you would have been charged with an offence," had Reverend Mountford stayed in Australia.
Archdeacon Collas says he is personally shocked by the letter but people will have to decide themselves how it reflects upon Dr George.
"Gobsmacked would be the right word, I'm just totally shocked," he said. "
"Especially as there is a clear understanding that any person who has abused children must face the criminal courts."
Archbishop George resigned earlier this month after intense pressure over his response to a report detailing allegations of sexual abuse by staff from Anglican agencies in South Australia.
He was also criticised for not fully investigating the allegations or reporting them to police.
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