BRIAN HOUSTON MISLEADS AMERICAN MEDIA
Hillsong’s orchestrated press release event before Hillsong Conference in the U.S.
You can read the below issues in the Royal Commission Transcripts on days 88 and 89. What we want readers to notice in this Huffington Post article is this section:
“Houston said the commission has raised questions about a possible conflict of interest for him to handle the response to his father.
“I never even thought about it like it was a conflict of interest,” Houston said. “I thought I was the one to brave up and do something about it.””
But in the Royal Commission, Houston stated,
“My brother was handling my father’s business and dealings by then, because of my, you know, obvious conflict, if you like, being a pastor at Hillsong Church and so on.” [Transcript-(Day-88): pg. 9371)]
So was there a confilct of interest or not? When so much money in the American marketplace is at stake, it can be no surprise that Brian Houston speaks in a less clear way. The latest media spat between Elton John and Dolce&Gabbana shows how powerful the media can be in trashing a brand. Given the law in Australia and the admission of failure to report a crime and the recommendation of the Royal Commission, it would be unsurprising if Brian Houston found himself in the dock facing 5 years in prison. It would become the biggest crisis facing Hillsong at that point.
The Huffington Post reported,
Hillsong Church Founder Brian Houston Defends Handling Of Father’s Sex Abuse Case
NEW YORK (RNS) The founder of Hillsong, one of the most influential religious brands across the globe, on Thursday (Oct. 16) denied allegations that he had tried to cover up his father’s sexual abuse, saying the victim asked him not to go to the police.
Fifteen years ago, Brian Houston found out that his father, who was a minister in New Zealand, admitted he sexually abused a boy in Sydney.
“It was the darkest day of my life because he was my hero, and suddenly he was a pedophile,” Houston said at a news conference.
Houston, who was president of the Assemblies of God in Australia in 1999, fired his father, took control of the church and merged it with Hillsong, now a sprawling megachurch on the outskirts of Sydney.
His father, Frank Houston, was never prosecuted, received a retirement package (which Houston said was more for his mother who also worked for the church) before he died in 2004.
Houston said that the victim who came forward to him asked him not to tell the police. He said he has since learned that Australian law requires someone to report a crime that could be punishable by five years in jail. “I would’ve gone to the police,” he said, if he had known about the reporting requirements.
The victim, who was 7 years old at the time of the abuse, has claimed that the younger Houston accused him of “tempting” his father.
Houston flatly denied the charge.
“To me it’s the most insidious thing in the world that a 7-year-old would be blamed for tempting a pedophile,” Houston said. “That was what was put out there and was very explosive, and to be frank, it has no foundation or truth. The conversation we had was a civil conversation, a good conversation and it was nothing like that.”
Hillsong is part of a larger Australian government investigation, called a royal commission, that is probing how institutions handle abuse claims. The high-level probe is expected to last another four years.
Houston said the commission has raised questions about a possible conflict of interest for him to handle the response to his father.
“I never even thought about it like it was a conflict of interest,” Houston said. “I thought I was the one to brave up and do something about it.”
Houston’s wife and co-pastor, Bobbie Houston, said: “We welcome the commission. Hopefully it’ll be a great benchmark for going into the future.”
Houston is in New York for the church’s second annual conference, which kicked off Thursday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden and is expected to draw some 5,000 people.
Addressing reporters on Thursday, Houston largely sidestepped a question on Hillsong’s position on same-sex marriage, instead saying that it was “an ongoing conversation” among church leaders and they were “on the journey with it.”
“The real issues in people’s lives are too important for us to just reduce it down to a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer in a media outlet,” he said.
“There’s the world we live in, there’s the weight we live with, and there’s the word we live by,” he added.
On Friday, a spokesman clarified that Houston holds a specific personal position.
“Brian was specifically referring to the church’s public position that doesn’t alienate people who are struggling with issues, and that ensures everyone is included in the message of God’s love,” said Lyall Mercer, media coordinator for Hillsong Church.
“His personal position on the issue of homosexuality is: ‘I think the writings of Paul are clear on this subject and my personal views would line up with most traditionally held Christian views.’”
Source: By Sarah Pulliam Bailey & Jonathan Merritt, Hillsong Church Founder Brian Houston Defends Handling Of Father’s Sex Abuse Case, Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/18/brian-houston-father-sex-abuse_n_6005400.html?utm_hp_ref=religion&ir=Religion, Posted: 18/10/2014 7:51 am EDT | Updated: 18/10/2014 7:59 am EDT. (Accessed 17/03/2015.)
Hillsong Church Watch 
you put your hand on the bible and lied brian god is watching and so are the police your day is coming been to long for the victims you refuse to help
” Given the law in Australia and the admission of failure to report a crime and the recommendation of the Royal Commission, it would be unsurprising if Brian Houston found himself in the dock facing 5 years in prison. ”
There is now no penalty is NSW for failing to report suspected child abuse. It is mandatory to report it, though there is no penalty if it is not reported.
Philip Wilson, the now Catholic bishop in Adelaide, who is facing a charge of failing to report an indictable offence is looking at a maximum of 2 years in prison if found guilty. Though a shorter sentence and/or bond and/or community service order is more likely these days in NSW for such offences. Just look up any number of NSW legal help sites. So where did you get 5 years from????
NT: “So where did you get 5 years from????”
You didn’t read what your buddy Brian supposedly said in the article:
“[Houston] said he has since learned that Australian law requires someone to report a crime that could be punishable by five years in jail. “I would’ve gone to the police,” he said, if he had known about the reporting requirements.”
I think Brian Houston is saying that if he knew he was required to report his father, then he would have reported his father, and his father could have been liable for five years prison. In that paragraph Brian Houston is not referring to himself being punished.
Under NSW law Frank Houston may have got 3 to 8 years prison.
newtaste: “I think Brian Houston is saying that if he knew he was required to report his father, then he would have reported his father.”
Ever heard the saying: “Ignorance is Bliss” or “Ignorance of the Law is NO excuse”?
Brian houston simply did NOT,and presently has NOT, acted in good faith, seeking to hide paedophile activities spanning many years and many victims.
Lev 4:13:“And if the whole congregation of Israel sin THROUGH IGNORANCE, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, AND ARE GUILTY”.
he’s dealt with tons, and having a pedophilic father whom is constantly being brought up to Brian isn’t spreading Jesus’ love. Just leave him alone already.
anon: “pedophilic father whom is constantly being brought up to Brian isn’t spreading Jesus’ love. Just leave him alone already.”
So, you are another hillsong person who agrees that brian houston is right to deny any moral or financial assistance to frank houston’s victims? He should be “left alone” ?
There is absolutely nothing Christian in that nonsense.