A WAR of words broke out last night between two archbishops over the meaning of a letter one wrote promising to raise the other's concerns with the Vatican.
Traditional Anglican Communion primate John Hepworth claimed that Adelaide Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson promised in December 2008 to discuss his allegations of sexual abuse with the Vatican.
However, an Adelaide diocese spokeswoman said the letter from Archbishop Wilson had nothing to do with Archbishop Hepworth's allegations he was raped as a Catholic seminarian and a priest in Adelaide.
Rather, she said, it involved the recognition by the Vatican of the 400,000-member breakaway Anglican communion led by Archbishop Hepworth.
"That letter has nothing at all to do with Archbishop Hepworth's complaint. At this time he was in direct communication with Rome about his desire for the Traditional Anglican Communion to become a part of the Catholic Church and he asked Archbishop Wilson to raise the matter when he was next in Rome; Archbishop Wilson agreed to do so," she said.
She said from June 2007 he was encouraged to report his allegations to the police.
Archbishop Hepworth said last night that on November 22, 2008, he asked Archbishop Wilson to take his case for reconciliation to the Holy See. He wrote that the TAC and his own position were deeply intertwined.
"I wrote that 'Part of my concern in both matters is that those who must make decisions concerning our seeking of unity should have sufficient information concerning my own position so that my position does not become a distorting issue," he wrote.
"I have therefore accepted the advice of Monsignor (David) Cappo to write this letter to you . . . asking that you inform the Holy See of the present situation in my discussions with your diocese'. "
Archbishop Hepworth also wrote he had also felt "compelled to speak to the Catholic church about events in my life as a seminarian and as a young priest in the Archdiocese of Adelaide".
He said the letter debunked claims by the spokeswoman that he had refused to lodge a "formal complaint". "How can there be anything more formal than taking the matter to the Vatican?"
In his reply, Archbishop Wilson wrote: "I will fulfil the request to report to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith the substance of your discussions that you have been holding with Monsignor Cappo when I am Rome in January 2009. Thank you for your promise to share information with the Holy See and your permission to share any documents that I consider appropriate in this matter."