Clergy and lay leaders of the Diocese of Ballarat are in open revolt against their bishop, the Rt Rev Michael Hough The Church of England Newspaper is reporting.The activists have filed charges against him with the Anglican Church of Australia seeking his ousting for conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy.
The newspaper says the push to oust Bishop Hough follows an unsuccessful drive by members of the neighbouring diocese of The Murray to oust their bishop, the Rt Rev Ross Davies.
On Sept 22, Bishop Davies returned to work after a year’s sick leave following charges levelled that he failed to appropriately respond to allegations that his archdeacon had engaged in sexual misconduct.
An internal church report in 2005 found that the allegations against Archdeacon Coote were “credible”, however, Bishop Davies is alleged to have taken no action other than refer him to a therapist.
An investigation into the allegations is on-going.
A review of the charges against Bishop Davies last year found insufficient evidence to bring him before a tribunal.
However, on Nov 30, the Adelaide Sunday Mail reported that Bishop Davies was asking for almost £500,000 from the diocese in return for his early retirement.
Bishop Hough responded that he had no intention of stepping down from office and that those unhappy with him were a small group of disaffected clergy unable to adapt to changing circumstances.
There was no case for him to answer he argued: “I’d have to do a lot worse than what they are accusing me of. Traditionally, it’s the big ones - adultery, theft, heresy” that would lead to removal from office.
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(Source: RI)