Australian authorities have charged Brian Houston, a Christian megachurch co-founder of Hillsong, for covering up his late father’s child sex abuse.
New South Wales police announced the charges on Thursday. They claim Houston, 67, had information about his father’s sexual abuse but withheld it.
“Police will allege in court the man knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police,” a statement read.
Houston has denied for years that he concealed any information on his dad’s disgraceful offenses. He’s faced scrutiny over the allegations since 2014, The Daily Beast reported. Australia’s royal commission into the child abuse accusations was made aware of the sex abuse claims, but Houston’s father, Frank Houston, had already passed away.
He is accused of sexually abusing multiple boys in the 1970s.
The charges against Brian Houston stem from a two-year investigation. If he is found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of five years.
Houston, also a pastor, currently lives in the United States and released his own statement about the charges.
“These charges have come as a shock to me given how transparent I’ve always been about this matter,” Houston said Thursday, according to The Guardian. “I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.”
The church stands behind Houston as well, saying it was “disappointed” to hear of the charges and ask “that he be afforded the presumption of innocence and due process as is his right… He has advised us that he will defend this and looks forward to clearing his name. We thank all who are a part of our church for their support and prayers at this time.”
Before the announcement of Houston’s charges, the church made a lengthy statement about its founder. It claimed the Houston learned of his late father’s abuses when he was 45. He then confronted his father about the incidents and said that the victim asked him not to inform the police.
However, the victim denies that claim.
Houston is scheduled to appear in court in October.
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