Child sex abuse victim says Anglican Church fobbed her off, then offered payout in exchange for silence

Anglican Church officials wrongly told a woman who was sexually abused more than 60 years ago they had to hold off resolving her complaint, then offered a payout and an apology if she agreed to a gag clause. Key points: Beth Heinrich pressed the Anglican Church in Brisbane for redress after former archbishop Peter Hollingworth stood by the priest who sexually abused her The diocese said it could not resolve her complaint because it would "prejudice" another church investigation of Dr Hollingworth Church investigators denied this and the diocese then offered Ms Heinrich a payout and an apology if she kept it confidential The church's Brisbane diocese has admitted to again failing Beth Heinrich over her 1995 complaint, which culminated in then-governor-general Peter Hollingworth publicly blaming her for a priest sexually exploiting her as a 15-year-old. A church spokesman said: "The Brisbane diocese acknowledges there have been unacceptable delays in finalising a redress claim of Ms Beth Heinrich". 'Most extraordinary case' Child protection expert and University of South Australia adjunct professor Chris Goddard said Ms Heinrich's was "the most extraordinary case of so-called secondary abuse I have ever seen". Ms Heinrich said she first approached the Brisbane diocese thinking "the church is a Christian community".