The child sexual abuse victim at the centre of former governor general Peter Hollingworth\u2019s resignation for failing to act on complaints said he should be remembered as a \u201csad example\u201d of a man who was bestowed honours while protecting abusers.<\/p>\n
Following Hollingworth\u2019s death<\/a> on Tuesday, advocates against child abuse have called for stronger national protections for children, saying there is still a long way to go.<\/p>\n Hollingworth\u2019s legacy is controversial, with many conservative pundits, including former prime minister John Howard and the current opposition leader, Angus Taylor, celebrating his commitment to eradicating child poverty and his strong Anglican faith.<\/p>\n But survivor Beth Heinrich \u2013 who waged a high-profile, decades-long campaign for justice over her treatment<\/a>, both by her abuser, the Anglican priest Donald Shearman, and the handling of her case by Hollingworth, then the Brisbane archbishop \u2013 said he does not deserve the honours.<\/p>\n \u201cThe man himself, he\u2019s a sad example of a priest who was given awards and honours he did not deserve and he never learned,\u201d she told Guardian Australia.<\/p>\n In March, Heinrich finally received an apology from the pulpit, with Queensland<\/a> Archbishop Jeremy Greaves acknowledging \u201cthe failures made by former Archbishop Peter Hollingworth in the handling of her abuser, deposed bishop Donald Shearman, who is now deceased\u201d in a public service.<\/p>\n Hollingworth was previously found to have failed to act to remove Shearman from the church, despite becoming aware of his abuse. While he was governor general, Hollingworth appeared on ABC television in 2002 and suggested that Heinrich, 14, had instigated a sexual relationship with Shearman, a married priest.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite having 25 years of experience at Brotherhood of St Laurence, he was a fully trained counsellor,\u201d Heinrich said on Wednesday. \u201cHe was a priest, he was a father of girls, but he chose to go on national television and vilify me and victim-blame a child.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had the satisfaction of him being disgraced in his former cathedral.\u201d<\/p>\n Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n Child protection expert and University of South Australia adjunct professor Chris Goddard said Hollingworth\u2019s comments on the ABC were \u201cjust the most extraordinary public accusation and humiliation\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe actually said he didn\u2019t think it was child abuse, it was the other way around,\u201d Goddard said. \u201cHe further victimised the victim and rewarded the perpetrators. He abused Beth on national television.\u201d<\/p>\n