An Australian pastor, co-founder of a mega-church present across the world, was indicted on Thursday for covering up sexual assaults allegedly committed by his father in the 1970s. After several years of investigation, police accused Brian Houston, 67, who helped found Hillsong, an evangelical church, of failing to report assaults on a young boy.


Brian Houston, a leading figure in Pentecostalism in Australia, has ties to Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morisson.

The pastor's father, Frank, who died in 2004, has been accused of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy when he was a preacher in the Assemblies of God Church.

In 2015, a royal commission of inquiry revealed that Brian Houston was made aware of the allegations in 1999 but failed to report them to authorities.

This had led to the opening of an investigation by the police.

In the past, this pastor has rejected any cover-up, claiming to have confronted his father with these allegations and not to have denounced him at the request of the victim who did not want to make matters public or seize the police.

"I vehemently proclaim my innocence"

"These accusations came as a shock to me, given the transparency I have always shown on this subject," he said in a statement Thursday. "I vehemently claim my innocence and I will defend myself against these accusations, I am happy to have the opportunity to set the record straight." The Australian Prime Minister, who has appeared at events organized by the Hillsong Church, admitted to having known Brian Houston “for a long time”. In a statement, the services of the head of government underlined that "it was a matter (of the competence) of the police" and that "it would be inappropriate to make comments".

Police said on Thursday they would argue in court that "the man knew of information relating to the sexual assault of a young man in the 1970s and that he did not bring this information to the court. 'attention from the police'.


In a statement, Hillsong Church said it was "disappointed" by the indictment, adding that the pastor, who faces up to five years in prison, "is anxious to clear his name."


Present in 28 countries, it claims to have celebrities among its followers.


She even has her own record company.

World

Coronavirus in Australia: New containment in Melbourne, Sydney records a record number of cases

High-Tech

Coronavirus: YouTube suspends Sky News Australia channel for a week for false information

  • Police

  • Sexual assault

  • World

  • Australia

  • Church