An assistant bishop could become the most senior Anglican in Australia to be defrocked after a church committee found he took no action when he was told a priest had sexually abused a child.
Assistant Bishop Richard Appleby has 28 days to appeal the decision made on Tuesday by the Professional Standards Board of the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle. It strips him of all roles in the church other than parishioner.
Appleby's lawyer Peter Skinner said he had yet to take instructions from his 78-year-old client on whether he would appeal.
The church investigation follows criticisms of Appleby in the royal commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse.
The board found Appleby, as assistant bishop in Newcastle in 1984, did nothing after he was told by a victim, identified as CKA, he had been sexually abused by priest George Parker. Parker remained a priest in Newcastle until 1996.
"I am satisfied that because of the conduct found, the respondent (Appleby) is unfit permanently to hold any office," board president Colin Elliott wrote.
Mr Elliott said a "cover-up culture" prevailed in Newcastle at the time.
Parker died in 2017 at age 79, three weeks after he was charged with 24 child sex offences against two young boys in the 1970s.
Appleby has denied being told about Parker's crimes.
Appleby does not face criminal charges.
CKA shed tears after learning of the board's decision.
"It's significant that the church as a body is prepared to take that action against him," CKA told the ABC.
"Today's findings couldn't have been stronger about the culture of the church that existed at that time, and hopefully this is an end of that."
