Former governor general and Brisbane’s Anglican archbishop Peter Hollingworth dies at 91

Lead

Former governor general and Anglican archbishop of Brisbane Peter Hollingworth has died at the age of 91. The news, confirmed by the current Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, Jeremy Greaves, has drawn both praise for his earlier social welfare work and renewed criticism from abuse survivors over his handling of child sexual abuse cases in the church.

Hollingworth, who died in Melbourne, was the first and only cleric to serve as Australia's governor general. Appointed in 2001 by then-Prime Minister John Howard, he resigned in 2003 amid controversy over his failure to act on knowledge of sexual abuse by clergy during his time as archbishop.

Coverage Comparison

Australian media outlets, including the ABC and The Guardian, have covered Hollingworth's death with a focus on both his public achievements and the circumstances that cut short his vice-regal term. While reports agree on the basic timeline of his life and career, the tone and emphasis vary. ABC's coverage has been notably critical, highlighting the impact of his actions on abuse survivors, with one victim describing him as a "sad example of a man." In contrast, The Guardian's reporting has adopted a more neutral tone, balancing his social justice contributions against the findings of the 2003 board of inquiry.

Key Claims

Peter Hollingworth was born in Adelaide in 1935 and ordained in 1960. He spent 25 years with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, including as its executive director, and was an outspoken advocate for the poor and for Indigenous rights. He was named Australian of the Year in 1991 and received both an Order of the British Empire and an Order of Australia for his welfare work.

He became the eighth Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane in 1989, serving for 11 years. In 2001, he was appointed the 23rd governor general of Australia, the personal choice of John Howard.

In 2003, a board of inquiry into the handling of sexual abuse complaints in the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane found that Hollingworth failed to act on knowledge of abuse and allowed two priests to remain in ministry despite knowing they had sexually assaulted children. He resigned as governor general shortly after the findings.

Hollingworth was never accused of abuse himself. He accepted the inquiry's findings, saying he "made mistakes and I cannot undo them," though he noted his actions were influenced by advice from church lawyers and insurers at the time.

One prominent case involves Beth Heinrich, who was abused by an Anglican priest in the 1950s. In 1995, she sought then-Archbishop Hollingworth's help to remove her abuser, Donald Shearman, from ministry. According to reports, Hollingworth took no action despite hearing evidence of the abuse.

In a 2002 interview with the ABC's Australian Story, Hollingworth made controversial comments about Heinrich's case, saying, "My belief is that this was not sex abuse... There was no suggestion of rape or anything like that." He later apologized, stating, "What happened to you as a girl was wrong and you were in no way responsible for it. I am deeply sorry for the words I used that suggested otherwise."

Heinrich told the ABC she found his death "sad for the Hollingworth family" but described his televised comments as deeply distressing, saying, "He chose to vilify and victim blame me on national television."

In 2023, a church inquiry found Hollingworth had committed misconduct by allowing the pedophiles to remain in the church but said he remained fit for ministry. Hollingworth accepted the findings and announced he would no longer practise as an Anglican priest "to end distress" for survivors.

Perspectives

The death of Peter Hollingworth has elicited a range of reactions. Former Prime Minister John Howard, who appointed him, praised his "strong Christian faith" and his dedication to social justice. Hollingworth's earlier work with the Brotherhood of St Laurence and his outspoken criticism of government welfare policy, including a public clash with Prime Minister Bob Hawke in 1984, are noted as significant contributions to Australian public life.

However, abuse survivors and their advocates view his legacy through the lens of his failures as archbishop. Beth Heinrich's criticism reflects the ongoing pain felt by many who were let down by church authorities. The current Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, Jeremy Greaves, offered condolences while acknowledging the church's "past failings" and apologizing unreservedly to those who suffered abuse.

Hollingworth himself reflected on his failings, saying he considered them almost every day. Yet he maintained his actions were shaped by the counsel of lawyers and insurers at the time—a context that some may see as mitigating, while others view as compounding the harm.

As Australia mourns a former viceroy, the debate over his legacy remains unresolved, with his story serving as a reminder of the deep scars left by institutional failures.