One of Divorce Resource’s article contributors, Newcastle lawyer Peter Kelso, has written an open letter to the retiring Anglican Archbishop of Perth, encouraging him to forego his church pension in light of failing in his duty to protect victims of abuse.

He has my full support in this request.

Archbishop Roger Herft previously stood aside to focus on the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.  He admitted to the commission that he let down abuse survivors between 1993 and 2005, when he was Bishop of Newcastle.

Archbishop Herft told the royal commission hearing that both he and the church "failed miserably" in their response to a child abuse complainant.

He took personal responsibility for not going to police with the information he admitted he would have been made aware of at the time, about abuse allegations against one paedophile priest.

He finished his testimony with an apology to the people of Newcastle,

"I've become aware of the sacred trust that the people of this region placed upon me. I have let them down. I let them down badly,” he said.

In December last year Archbishop Roger Herft announced his resignation.

Read: Perth Archbishop Roger Herft resigns after admitting to let down sex abuse survivors

 

Retiring Archbishop Roger Herft says he let victims down badly (Source: ABC.net.au)

 

Since the Archbishop announced his retirement, Newcastle lawyer, Peter Kelso has written an open letter to Archbishop Herft, urging him to "abandon your rights to a church pension".

"The Archbishop will go into retirement with all of the church benefits and so forth," says Mr Kelso.

As Mr Kelso points out in his letter, it is not so much a resignation as early retirement for the Archbishop given that he is currently on leave until his formal retirement in July.

Mr Kelso said forfeiting the money and donating it to the victims would send a clear message to abuse survivors that the Archbishop is remorseful.

Mr Kelso told ABC News that many abuse survivors did not believe apologies and wanted to see real action.

"If he's truly sorry for what he failed to do in Newcastle, he should be prepared to put his money where his mouth is."

Peter Kelso grew up as a ward of state before becoming a lawyer and now represents victims of abuse making claims against churches and other institutions.  He says, "some sort of redress or compensation directly from Roger Herft to the hurting victims would mean a lot to the victims, in my opinion." He added that he has seen the positive effects firsthand when he negotiates settlements for victims.

PHOTO: Newcastle lawyer Peter Kelso says Archbishop Herft should put his money where his mouth is. (Source: LinkedIn)

Read Mr Kelso's letter in full:

 

Dear Bishop Roger,

I am a solicitor in Newcastle. I have lived here since 1984. I act for many survivors of institutional child abuse all around Australia. For a considerable part of my time here you were the Bishop of Newcastle.

You have admitted to the Child Abuse Royal Commission that you let the people of Newcastle down; you failed to protect them from the paedophiles in your church who were abusing the children right under your nose. You received complaints but turned your face away.

You can't even remember the distraught parents who came to see you.

You now realise the gravity of your omissions. It must be dreadful to spend 43 years in 'service' for the Church and retire with such an appalling legacy. You have 'resigned' as you say but truthfully you were nearing retirement anyway, weren't you?

So it's not really a resignation, is it?

It's actually a form of voluntary early retirement. I imagine you will be accepting all the benefits of long service and that is what bothers me and prompts me to write to you.

If you are truly remorseful for what you failed to do, will you abandon your rights to a church pension and donate the money you would have received to the victims?

In other words, volunteer to treat yourself as someone who deserves no privileges, as if you were summarily dismissed by your employer?

What are your thoughts on this?

I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Peter Kelso
Director
KELSO LAWYERS

 

WATCH: Peter Kelso - the story of his abusive childhood and becoming a lawyer for victims.