The 2014 statement asserts that the abuse, which occurred long before Hillsong was formed and when Brian Houston himself was a teenager, was immediately addressed. “Be assured that we did not tolerate sexual abuse when we heard of these allegation in 1999—and we don’t now,” it reads. It also emphasizes that any payments made to the victim were between Frank Houston and the victim. “It had nothing to do with me or Hillsong Church,” Brian Houston asserts.
In 2015, the Royal Commission found that Brian Houston had not reported his father’s crimes to police. It also agreed there was a conflict of interest and that Brian Houston didn’t provide written evidence of his father’s suspension.
Regarding a conflict of interest, Hillsong’s 2015 statement noted: “It is easy to look back many years with hindsight; however, Pastor Brian acted in the best way he felt at the time and took decisive and immediate action against his own father.”
The 2015 statement, titled “Response to Royal Commission Report—from Hillsong Church Board and Elders,” emphasizes that “Pastor Brian is not a perpetrator of abuse, has never been accused of abuse, and took immediate action to expose and stop a child abuser.” It also lists what it calls “facts that are indisputable,” including: “The victim was a 36-year-old adult when this abuse became known and could have taken the matter to police himself at any time. The victim did not want Pastor Brian or others to go to the police or to make this matter public. At no time did Pastor Brian attempt to dissuade anyone—including the victim—from going to police.” It then lists the specific actions Brian took to ensure “no child was placed in danger.”
What’s Next?
After the Royal Commission’s 2015 report, police in New South Wales started investigating how Brian Houston handled his father’s crimes. The case was suspended due to lack of evidence but now has been reopened, according to a police spokesman.
On October 23, David Shoebridge, a member of Australia’s parliament, spoke out, saying Brian Houston had “failed the victims” of his father and there was “a strong basis” for prosecution. Shoebridge says Sengstock had contacted his office for assistance. “He is suffering from a life-threatening illness and is concerned justice will not be served in his lifetime,” Shoebridge says. Police provided no additional details about the case.
When the commission first began looking into the matter, Brian Houston said, “Having to face the fact that my father engaged in such repulsive acts was—and still is—agonizing. However, as painful as this is for me, I can only imagine how much more pain these events caused to the victims, and my prayer is that they find peace and wholeness.”
Brian Houston added that Hillsong welcomes any recommendations for strengthening the church’s child-protection policies. The commission’s work, he said, “reminds us of the vulnerability of our children and should compel every organization responsible for the oversight of children—churches, schools or other institutions—to ensure that the abhorrent acts of the past will never happen again.”
