Mr Lawrence has been labelled one of the most influential priests in Newcastle's history, with a strong sphere of supporters that rallied behind him during his time as dean of the city from 1984 until 2008.

The former priest was questioned at the child abuse royal commission today about his time as a rector in Griffith, where a man known as CKH claims he was sexually abused by Mr Lawrence as a teenager.
Counsel assisting the commission, Naomi Sharp, put to Mr Lawrence that he was actively involved in abuse.

"Were you the leader of a circle of sexual abusers?" Ms Sharp asked.

"Certainly not," Mr Lawrence replied.

Mr Lawrence was probed specifically about an allegation that he entered the bedroom of 16-year-old CKH in 1981, undid the fly of his pants and told the boy "you can have this any time".

"I did not do that," Mr Lawrence shot back.

"Did you have sexual experiences with CKH in 1981?" Ms Sharp asked.

Mr Lawrence replied: "I did not. I deny that on my oath."

Mr Lawrence said he denied all the allegations made by CKH, including those referring to a group sex incident at a clergy conference in 1984 when CKH was of legal age.

Those claims ultimately led to the defrocking of Mr Lawrence and fellow priests Andrew Duncan and Bruce Hoare.

Lawrence 'suspected' priest was abusing boy

In a stunning admission to the royal commission, Graeme Lawrence said he "suspected" deacon Andrew

Duncan was having sex with CKH, when CKH was just 15-years-old.
He said he knew the teenager was under the age of consent, and recognised sex with the boy was a criminal offence.

Ms Sharp asked why Mr Lawrence, armed with his suspicions, did not pursue the matter with church officials.

"Didn't you have an obligation to report it to police?" she asked.

"I was more concerned with his [Duncan's] alcoholism," Mr Lawrence replied.

"You were more concerned about his alcoholism than the sexual relationship that he was pursuing with a 15-year-old boy?" asked Ms Sharp.

"That is correct," Mr Lawrence replied before admitting he "absolutely" should have reported the matter to police.

Mr Lawrence told the commission he reported Mr Duncan's alcohol abuse to the relevant bishop, but not his suspicions of child sexual abuse.

The commission chair, Peter McClellan, labelled the lack of action "extraordinary".

Ex-priest grilled about 'smutty' pictures

Mr Lawrence was asked about cards and paraphernalia sent to CKH by him and Mr Lawrence's long-term partner Gregory Goyette.

Some of the cards contained provocative images of men, with one featuring a man in his underwear with the message "thought of you when I saw this little Christmas stocking full of goodies. Almost good enough to eat".

Ms Sharp asked whether the cards and messages were "smutty" references and proof that Mr Lawrence knew Mr Goyette was having a sexual relationship with CKH. He denied the proposition.

Sharp: You're lying now aren't you?
Lawrence: I am not lying, it's rude of you to say so.
Sharp: You also had a sexual relationship with CKH?
Lawrence: I did not.
Sharp: And you're lying now, aren't you?
Lawrence: I am not.

Mr Lawrence described the cards to CKH as "light hearted" and "nonsensical".

Denials church 'gang' protected notorious paedophile

Graeme Lawrence was questioned about his relationship with the late paedophile priest Peter Rushton, who abused children in the Hunter region over several decades.
Rushton never faced charges because the church only accepted allegations made against him after his death in 2007.

"I don't think anyone knew Peter Rushton well," Mr Lawrence said after saying he chose not to socialise with him.

Mr Lawrence denied being part of a "gang of three" within the church that protected Rushton and said he was unaware of perceptions that he and Rushton were feared by many in the diocese.

'Fox in charge of the hen house'

The lawyer representing child abuse survivor CKA, Peter O'Brien, grilled Mr Lawrence about claims he was answering a child abuse hotline in the 1990s, effectively screening calls.

Mr Lawrence denied that he was ever involved in answering the calls of abuse complainants.

O'Brien: You were the fox in charge of the chicken house weren't you?
Lawrence: I was not.
O'Brien: You were in a position, if you wanted, to protect priests from allegations of child sexual abuse?
Lawrence: That is not correct.

The commission also heard from the former assistant bishop of Newcastle, Richard Appleby, who was recalled to explain a discrepancy in earlier evidence that he did not have a meeting with a child abuse complainant.

Bishop Appleby said he was "intensely embarrassed" his evidence was contradicted by diary entries he made at the time and he apologised to the commission.
The current business manager for the Newcastle diocese, John Cleary, will continue his evidence when the hearing resumes tomorrow, for what is expected to be its final day.

END