By Kate Midena and Louise Heywood, ABC Australia
When Greg Thompson became the bishop of Newcastle, he refused to turn a blind eye to the decades-long child sex abuse scandals in the diocese.
For him, it was personal. He was himself a sexual abuse survivor.
But speaking out came at huge personal cost — and left Greg wondering where he fits in the Anglican Church.
Warning: This story contains themes which may be upsetting for some readers.
For a man who made the decision to become a priest at the age of 16, it’s been a devastating experience.
“I was seen as an outsider and they were telling me I’m an outsider,” Greg told ABC TV’s Compass.
“I am a cynic now of the Anglican institution because of what I’ve seen and experienced.
“But I look back and think, ‘I’ve invested my life in people, and the institution was the framework for me to do that.’”
Where it all began
Hat Tip: Anglican Ink