Apology

I, Peter F Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney, publicly reaffirm the church’s abhorrence of abuse and misconduct by clergy and church workers.

I apologise on behalf of the church to every person who has been the subject of abuse or misconduct by a member of the clergy or a church worker. You should not have had to suffer such an experience. I am both angry and ashamed that it happened at all and especially in the context of the Church.

I commit myself and the Anglican Diocese of Sydney to giving these issues a high priority. Unless dealt with properly, they will remain a barrier to mission by alienating people from the good news of Jesus Christ. I will continue to take an active role in ensuring that the Diocese gives priority to responding to abuse and misconduct as well as putting in place policies and practices which protect everyone and the vulnerable in particular.

Dr Peter F Jensen
Archbishop of Sydney

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