kwigibo

On the front page of The Australian yesterday (can't find the article right now), Mr. Hollingworth was quoted saying he felt like jesus in front of Pilate, in the face of overwhelming pressure on him to resign. He also added that he's looking for spiritual guidance on the matter, and hopes to find the answer through prayer. Doesn't that just take the fucking cake.

(To fill non-australians in, Peter Hollingworth is a former anglican archbishop who has a record of leniency on a number of pedophile clergy in anglican schools. Due to a recent report decrying his handling of a particular case, there has been a public outcry. Unfortunately for us and our clumsy political system, the only people who can dismiss him are himself and the prime minister, and neither want to make a move.)

And i thought i lived in a civilised country.

FoE

This guy must be a great boon to the republicans in your country.

BigBlue2

Funny you should mention that.

From todays Sydney Morning Herald

Evangelion

ROTFL! Great cartoon!

But the Ammies probably don't realise that our "Republicans" aren't the same as theirs. Do you want to try and explain it, or shall I?

In fact, we don't have an equivalent of their Republican party.

Thank God.

BigBlue2

Just to put in my 19,429 Turkish Lira on kwigibo's OP, Hollingworth should have resigned last year when he played "blame the victim" on a sex abuse case. This latest attempt at a Cardinal Law impersonation is simply another reason for him to go. The apologists have been out in force calling his actions an "error of judgement" which is, of course, claptrap. Buying Enron shares two years ago is an error of judgement. What Hollingworth did was to condone a crime, pure and simple. He should resign. Now.

Sarpedon

You should try erecting a gallows (or better yet, a guillotine) in front of his residence. Maybe he will get the hint. I advocated the same for Bernard law, and also they should have tried spitting on him as he processed down the aisle...unfortunately, there are some people in this world who can only be got rid of through violence. Or you could propose to your parlimentarians that you amend the constitution.

Evangelion

Actually, the Queen can remove the G-G if we provide good cause, but lately she's been leaving us to do our own thing, so she might not be interested in this case.

Hollingworth is being kept on by the Liberal government because he's a good buddy of theirs. But if the pressure keeps up, he will have to be dropped. Howard can't afford to have Hollingworth on the sidelines during the next election campaign.

Just give it time.

BigBlue2

I'd prefer the gallows. Makes me all nostalgic about our convict heritage.

The problem here is that a week is a long time in politics and the election isn't due until late next year.

Evangelion

The long week of politics cuts both ways, mate. In a single week, Hollingworth could be nothing more than a has-been.

Let's wait and see.

Evangelion

And right on cue...

• Queen concerned about G-G: report
  
  From correspondents in London
  May 9, 2003
  
  
  THE Queen is concerned about Peter Hollingworth's position as governor-general of Australia and would raise no objections to his removal, it was reported today.
  
  British newspaper The Times said the Queen was known to be concerned about Dr Hollingworth's increasingly precarious position and "certainly" discussed it with Prime Minister John Howard at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night.
  
  Mr Howard has refused to divulge their conversation, but a senior Palace official told the paper that the Queen would raise no objection if Mr Howard decided he wanted Dr Hollingworth to stand down.
  
  "The Queen follows the advice of her ministers in the Australian government," the official said.
  
  "The Queen is being kept informed on a wide range of matters on Australian issues, which includes the governor-general."
  
  Dr Hollingworth is under renewed pressure to resign as the Queen's representative amid allegations he raped a woman in Victoria in the 1960s.
  
  He has strongly denied the claims.
  
  Source.

It's times like these that I wish the monarchy would be more assertive!

Oh, the irony...