Former Governor-General Peter Hollingworth Dies at 91 Amid Complex Legacy
Former Governor-General Peter Hollingworth Dies at 91 Amid Complex Legacy
Peter Hollingworth, the former Governor-General who resigned over his handling of child abuse cases, has passed away at 91. A look back at his polarizing legacy.
Peter Hollingworth, a figure whose career spanned the highest levels of Australian religious and public life, has passed away at the age of 91. Hollingworth died on Tuesday, leaving behind a legacy marked by both a deep commitment to social welfare and a tenure overshadowed by one of the most significant scandals in the history of the Australian Anglican Church.
Born in Australia, Hollingworth rose to prominence as the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane in 1990. He was widely respected for his advocacy for the poor and the disadvantaged, earning him the title of Australian of the Year in 1991. His work in fighting poverty was a cornerstone of his early career, leading to his appointment as Governor-General in 2001 by Prime Minister John Howard.
However, his time as Australia’s first clerical viceroy was cut short. Within less than two years, Hollingworth was forced to resign following a board of inquiry into his handling of sexual abuse complaints during his time as archbishop. The inquiry found that he had failed to act despite knowing of abuse committed by priests under his supervision, allowing them to remain in the church.
The fallout from these findings followed him for decades. Even as recently as 2023, a church inquiry concluded he had committed misconduct, though he was deemed fit for ministry. Hollingworth admitted to making mistakes that he could not undo, while maintaining he had committed no crimes himself. He eventually chose to stop practicing as a priest last year to avoid further distress to survivors.
The current Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, Jeremy Greaves, offered condolences to the family while acknowledging the 'deep regret' and 'past failings' of the church. The church also issued an unreserved apology to survivors who suffered due to these failures. Hollingworth’s death marks the end of a complicated chapter in Australian history, one that balances a life of service against a failure to protect the vulnerable.
