Brian Houston, the founder of Hillsong Church, has been found not guilty of concealing the crimes of his father, who was a convicted paedophile.
Australian prosecutors had alleged that Brian Houston attempted to cover up his father’s sexual abuse of a child during the 1970s. The court ruled that Brian Houston had a “reasonable excuse” under the law for not reporting the abuse.
Frank Houston, Brian’s father, was a pastor who abused as many as nine boys. Victim Brett Sengstock, who waived his right to anonymity, was abused by Frank Houston when he was seven years old. The abuse continued over several years as the pastor relocated to Australia.
The prosecution argued that Brian Houston was involved in paying “hush money” to Sengstock and used his influence to further cover up abuse allegations. However, the court found that while Brian Houston’s involvement in the payment was wrong, there was no need to buy the victim’s silence.
Brian Houston admitted to knowing about the money but stated he considered it his father’s attempt to make amends. He maintained that his actions were aimed at addressing the issue rather than covering it up.
The verdict comes after years of speculation regarding the church’s handling of the abuse allegations. Hillsong Church, founded by Brian Houston, has gained global recognition for its modern evangelism and large following.
While Brian Houston expressed relief at the verdict, he also expressed sadness for his father’s victims. Victim Brett Sengstock expressed his frustration that clergy child sexual abuse survivors often lack a voice in such cases.
The court’s decision concludes a lengthy legal battle that shed light on a sensitive issue within the church’s history.
-BBC-
