Hollingworth cleared for ministry despite seven abuse findings

A mandatory formal apology and restrictions on ministry duties—but no defrocking. That is the outcome for former governor-general Peter Hollingworth after an independent church review found him guilty of misconduct in relation to seven of ten complaints, yet still deemed him "fit for ministry."

The Professional Standards Board for the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne reached its determination on Monday, concluding the 88-year-old archbishop emeritus poses no unacceptable threat to others despite clear breaches in his handling of child sexual abuse cases spanning the 1990s and beyond.

Hollingworth acknowledged his role in the failures, though he maintained he broke no law. "I made mistakes and I cannot undo them," he said. "I accept the board's recommendations and look forward to these matters finally being put to rest."

The review, conducted by Kooyoora—an independent clearance body for the Melbourne diocese—came after a more than five-year investigation and a private four-day hearing in February. It examined Hollingworth's response to multiple child abuse complaints during his tenure as archbishop of Brisbane, a role he held for over a decade.

In a statement, Hollingworth attributed his errors partly to inexperience with abuse cases and to guidance from legal and insurance advisers rather than pastoral priorities. "Like other church leaders, I was unduly influenced by the advice of lawyers and insurance companies," he said.

Melbourne Archbishop Philip Freier will issue a formal reprimand, citing Hollingworth's retention of two clergy members despite knowing they were offenders and his "harsh and insensitive communications" with abuse victims. Freier has notified the Commission for Children and Young People and will publish a fuller statement in coming days.

The case that drew most public scrutiny centred on Toowoomba Preparatory School, where Hollingworth allegedly failed to respond appropriately to misconduct allegations against a staff member. Critics had called for his defrocking before the inquiry even concluded.

Hollingworth served as Australia's 23rd governor-general from 2001 to 2003, when he resigned following revelations about his handling of abuse complaints. During the current investigation, he also had to deny assault allegations spanning back to the 1960s.

The board's qualified clearance—permitting him to continue in ministry under "limited and defined duties"—reflects a threshold: seven misconduct findings stand against him, yet the assessment concludes that supervised practice carries no heightened risk. However, a formal, mandated apology to affected victims is non-negotiable.

In 2016, during Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Hollingworth had already apologised for what he called "a serious error in judgment" in failing to act against paedophile priest John Elliot. The review's outcome sits within a wider reckoning over institutional accountability for abuse across Australian churches and community organisations, an issue that has defined recent inquiries and public debate.