Content Warning: This article about Brian Houstoin discusses sexual abuse. If you or someone you know is affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Hillsong founder Brian Houston has stepped down as leader of the church while he defends a criminal charge alleging he covered up his father’s child sexual abuse.
In a statement released on the church’s website today, Houston said the charges against him were “unexpected” and the allegations that he had failed to disclose information about his late father had come as a “shock”.
“In December, during our board meeting, Hillsong’s external legal counsel gave the board advice regarding the current charge I am facing,” Houston continued.
“That it would be ‘best practice’ for me to step aside completely from church leadership during the court proceedings.
“The court processes are likely to be drawn out and take up most of 2022 [especially considering the backlog in the courts, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic].”
He continued, “We have talked about the effects of the situation with my father, which go back many years up to the current legal case, and the impact this has had on me emotionally.”
“The result is that the Hillsong Global Board feel it is in my and the church’s best interest for this to happen, so I have agreed to step aside from all ministry responsibilities until the end of the year.”
He added that he needed to be “fully committed to preparation and engagement with the case and work closely with my lawyers in defending this charge”.
“I have said, including in a prior statement, that I intend to fight the charge and welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.”
It was revealed back in August last year that Houston would be required to front court after he was charged with allegedly concealing information about his father.
As per the ABC, the charges against Houston are specifically tied to concealing information about child sexual abuse and have now surfaced following a two-year investigation.
Houston’s work in religious industries has propelled him to enormous financial wealth, currently holding a net worth of $10 million.
According to the ABC, information concealed by Houston regards his father, a pastor, Frank Houston, who reportedly admitted to sexually abusing children in Australia and New Zealand a number of decades ago. This has been confirmed by The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
A NSW Police spokesperson said at the time of the charges, “Police will allege in court the man knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police.”
Houston later issued a statement in response to the allegations, saying that they are shocking to him and that he wants to set the record straight.
He said, “These charges have come as a shock to me.”
Continuing on, “I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.”
Houston has been living in the United States for the past couple of months.
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