GOVERNOR-GENERAL Peter Hollingworth’s future in the position is a matter for him to decide, Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane said.
Archbishop Bathersby was asked to comment on the controversy surrounding the Governor-General during an ABC radio interview on May 5.
Governor-General Hollingworth has been under pressure to resign since the release of a report on the Anglican Church’s handling of sex abuse cases.
The report, tabled in Queensland Parliament on May 1, indicated that Governor-General Hollingworth, while Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, had allowed a priest, John Litton Elliott, to remain active as a minister despite knowing the priest had sexually abused a boy.
When asked on radio if the Governor-General should resign, Archbishop Bathersby said it was a decision for Dr Hollingworth.
‘I believe that, with the integrity that I witnessed here (in Brisbane), if he felt the job was impossible that he could do it no longer, that he would make whatever decision was necessary at that time,’ Archbishop Bathersby said.
‘I’m not convinced at this stage that that is the case. Again, I think it’s something that has to be assessed by himself.’
Archbishop Bathersby said the Governor-General had been a good friend while he was Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, and was still a friend.
