Current Hillsong

[Kurve]

* The latest involves allegations of money laundering, tax evasion and fraud.

Brian Houston, the founder of the Hillsong Church, is under investigation by New South Wales police over his handling of the sex crimes committed by his father Frank Houston.

Frank Houston was a Pentecostal pioneer, a leading Assemblies of God pastor who preyed on young boys in Australia and New Zealand in the 1960s and 1970s.

The first allegations of Frank Houston’s pedophilia emerged in the late 1990s when Brian Houston was the Australian National President of the Assemblies of God, part of the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world.

In 2014, Brian Houston gave evidence before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse, which later found he had failed to take the matter to the police and had a conflict of interest in dealing with the complaints against his father.

It has emerged that in the wake of the Royal Commission’s findings, NSW Police began looking into his handling of his father’s crimes, an investigation that was suspended because of lack of evidence.

A NSW police spokesman said the investigation has been reopened and is now “current and active”.

Hillsong Church founder under police investigation over handling of father's sex crimes

 

[Kurve]

A book by Tanya Levin, People in Glass Houses is about Hillsong Church published 2007. Tanya is no longer welcome at Hillsong, they had her arrested and charged with trespass. She was handled and frisked, looking for microphones. They also tried to gag her, this is ongoing.

Tanya Levin grew up in the church that became Hillsong—the country's most ambitious, entrepreneurial and influential religious corporation.

People in Glass Houses tells how a small Assemblies of God church in a suburban school hall became a multi-million dollar tax-free enterprise and a powerful force in Australia—and now around the world.

Opening up the world of Christian fundamentalism, this is a powerful, personal and at times very funny exploration of an all-singing, allswaying mega church.

 

[Kurve]

BREAKING NEWS. Hillsong pastor Brian Houston has been charged for allegedly concealing child sexual abuse by his father.

Mr Houston, who has recently travelled to Mexico, was charged following a two-year investigation into allegations he had failed to report the alleged abuse of a young male in the 1970s.

Detectives on Thursday afternoon served his lawyer with a court attendance notice requiring Mr Houston’s appearance at Downing Centre Local Court on October 5.

“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,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Hillsong pastor Brian Houston charged for allegedly concealing child sexual abuse by his father

Brian Houston was charged following a two-year investigation into allegations he had failed to report the alleged abuse of a young male in the 1970s.

www.smh.com.au

 

[BFew]

Houston to Houston?

So he has a visa that says he must stay in the US until at least late October, assuming he left Australia in late July.

So if he has to appear in a Sydney Court in the first week of October, he will be in breach of his visa?

Surely it will be too dangerous to come back to Sydney, in case either
- he brings a virus back from the US with him (potentially a variant of Delta)
- he gets exposed to the Bondi virus on the way back or when he is back (his legals can probably come up with a variation on this to say it is too dangerous for him to attempt to come back)

If he does come back, are they planning to have him appear in court during his mandatory at least 14 day quarantine period?

And if he ever comes back, will he be allowed to 14 day quarantine somewhere that is not a hotel quarantine?

My very weary Oracle predicts he will never ever come back to Australia.
Maybe something like a very very long case of COVID.

Or could they do a an audio/video court appearance with him still in the US and he be trialled remotely from him still being in the US, and then serving out any sentence in the US if he is every found guilty and all appeals fail.

Hillsong founders granted travel exemption to leave Australia

Hillsong founders Brian and Bobbie Houston have been granted an exemption to leave the country amid Australia’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic despite strict travel limitations.

www.skynews.com.au

'July 27, 2021 - 4:30PM
... A Hillsong spokesperson confirmed the megachurch leaders had obtained a travel exemption under the category of leaving the country for more than three months.
...
The Hillsong Monterrey branch promoted the couple’s visit to the church – announcing they would arrive on July 25....'

No Cookies | Herald Sun

No Cookies

www.heraldsun.com.au

'Mr Houston is expected to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 5 October 2021.'

 

[Cookie]

What does Morrison know and when did he know it?
Who gave the travel exemption?
There is a whiff of stench about this.

 

[BFew]

Who gave the travel exemption?

Wanna hypothetically bet that whoever(s) approved the travel exemption will say that they were not aware that Houston was under investigation.

And/or that there was nothing in the travel exemption process that involved checking with all Law Enforcement Agencies in Australia, whether the person(s) being reviewed were under investigation for any criminal activity. Or a requirement for any law enforcement agencies to disclose that anyone inquired about was under investigation when questioned regarding any travel exemption review.

 

[Cookie]

Wanna hypothetically bet that whoever(s) approved the travel exemption will say that they were not aware that Houston was under investigation.

And/or that there was nothing in the travel exemption process that involved checking with all Law Enforcement Agencies in Australia, whether the person(s) being reviewed were under investigation for any criminal activity. Or a requirement for any law enforcement agencies to disclose that anyone inquired about was under investigation when questioned regarding any travel exemption review.

The question around Houston Snr's alleged activity has been around quite a while.
It could be said it was the reason why Trump didn't want to host Houston at the White House, much to Morrison's disappointment.

 

[BFew]

Hillsong pastor Brian Houston charged for allegedly concealing child sexual abuse by his father

Brian Houston was charged following a two-year investigation into allegations he had failed to report the alleged abuse of a young male in the 1970s.

www.smh.com.au

'A spokesperson for the church said Mr Houston would return to Australia to attend court in October and fight the charge.'

 

[BFew]

From a political perspective, having Houston charged and cleared prior to the 2021/2022 Federal Election makes political sense.

 

[Hojuman]

Hillsong pastor Brian Houston charged for allegedly concealing child sexual abuse by his father

Brian Houston was charged following a two-year investigation into allegations he had failed to report the alleged abuse of a young male in the 1970s.

www.smh.com.au

'A spokesperson for the church said Mr Houston would return to Australia to attend court in October and fight the charge.'

" Look, l'd love to come back and defend myself against these baseless allegations, but as you can see l've had a bit of a health setback "

 

[Cookie]

The question around Houston Snr's alleged activity has been around quite a while.
It could be said it was the reason why Trump didn't want to host Houston at the White House, much to Morrison's disappointment.

7:30 tonight also seems to think there is something in my theory about the White House visit.
Morrison is super defensive on the issue.

 

[BFew]

7:30 tonight also seems to think there is something in my theory about the White House visit.
Morrison is super defensive on the issue.

I speculate that if Morrison could have got Houston to the White House, that team Trump and others locally might have been under pressure to lay off Houston, to avoid it subsequently reflecting badly on Trump should Houston be seen in a bad light. Morrison trying to pre-emptively protect Houston?

Does Morrison mentioning National Security on this issue, possibly suggest that Houston might have been a US or other security agency asset of some flavour?

 

[Cookie]

I speculate that if Morrison could have got Houston to the White House, that team Trump and others locally might have been under pressure to lay off Houston, to avoid it subsequently reflecting badly on Trump should Houston be seen in a bad light. Morrison trying to pre-emptively protect Houston?

Does Morrison mentioning National Security on this issue, possibly suggest that Houston might have been a US or other security agency asset of some flavour?

Doubt if National Security has anything to do with it.
But it's more about Morrison's character and his narcissistic traits.
I'm sure Morrison promised Houston a seat at the White House table. Reason 1 - they're thick as thieves; Reason 2 - Houston is Morrison's spiritual and pastoral master, and; Reason 3 - Morrison overestimated his relationship with Trump. Trouble is that the White House saw straight through it (as many other have).
Morrison may be an alleged cunning politician, but he hasn't got an ounce of CDF (Common Dog *).
Trump played him a ripper when he stooged Morrison into beating the drum for an inquiry into the Wuhan investigation. Trump laid the bait, Morrison took it hook, line and sinker. As such, diplomatic relations with China blew up much to the benefit of US exporters.
I digress, but this has plenty to play out before the court case. A fact that Morrison will now hide behind, legal matters and all that.

 

[Christopher Buttersnip]

 

[Kurve]

Okay, so he did come back to Australia. I bet he avoided hotel quarantine!

Mr Houston didn't appear, but his lawyer indicated he would plead not guilty.

The case was adjourned until November 23.

The court documents also state Mr Houston is accused of concealing the information between September 1999 and November 2004, in Baulkham Hills and elsewhere around NSW.

They say he allegedly knew that he “had information that might be of material assistance in securing the prosecution of Frank Houston” and “without reasonable excuse, failed to bring that information to the attention of the NSW Police Force”.

Hillsong founder Brian Houston pleads not guilty to concealing child sex abuse

The founder of mega-church Hillsong, Brian Houston, is facing court for concealing information about his father's alleged indecent assault of a child in 1970.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Kurve]

Brian Houston's resigned.

Hillsong founder Brian Houston steps down as leader ahead of court hearing

Hillsong founder Brian Houston steps down as leader of the church while he defends a criminal charge alleging he covered up his father's child sexual abuse.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MSB ROYS]

Evil people.

 

[BFew]

Brian Houston's resigned.

Hillsong founder Brian Houston steps down as leader ahead of court hearing

Hillsong founder Brian Houston steps down as leader of the church while he defends a criminal charge alleging he covered up his father's child sexual abuse.

www.abc.net.au

You were way ahead of your time!

He only stood aside. (like a footy self-suspension)

This morning he resigned.

EXCLUSIVE: Brian Houston resigns from Hillsong Church in wake of allegations

The announcement was made today at an all-staff Hillsong meeting.

www.crikey.com.au

 

[Kurve]

You were way ahead of your time!

He only stood aside. (like a footy self-suspension)

This morning he resigned.

EXCLUSIVE: Brian Houston resigns from Hillsong Church in wake of allegations

The announcement was made today at an all-staff Hillsong meeting.

www.crikey.com.au

I must have had some sort of psychic flash

 

[Kurve]

Unless involved in any way with Hillsong this may not interest but here's Tanya Levin's podcast, the author of a Hillsong expose, People In Glass Houses. She was recently arrested (again) for taking a photo of a court document through a Hillsong proceeding in Sydney. As she said, it took them 8 years to get Houston and only 36 hours to grab her.

Hillsong tends to keep an eye on Tanya.

Leaving Hillsong

the people and the stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. - Religion & Spirituality podcast from United States

www.listennotes.com

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Revolting creep just like his mate ScuMo

 

[Kurve]

Here and this man left Hillsong in 1995, since then Hillsong has only become more powerful. Bullock’s allegations point to a long-standing culture of cover-up.

Bullock left the church in 1995 and has maintained his silence since. In a television interview broadcast on United States cable network NewsNation earlier today, Bullock said he now felt he had a responsibility to speak up about Hillsong, in light of the turmoil that has recently engulfed the church.

Houston says sorry as US pastor blows the whistle on Hillsong’s business tactics​

“I lived through it and there are a multitude of hurting people that I think I have to start the story and hopefully that’ll give people courage to tell their story,” he said.

The whole problem with fundamentalist Christianity is that you end up feeling like you have to protect the institution. And that comes with a growing sense of fear that if you don’t protect the institution, you are against the institution.

Bullock’s allegations point to a long-standing culture of cover-up and a fear of retribution against dissenters. His allegations also highlight a pervasive hypocrisy in relation to founder Frank Houston’s abusive behaviour, which was revealed publicly in 2007.

Hillsong founding member blows the whistle on hypocrisy and cover-ups, as the unravelling continues

The new allegations from a church defector are just the latest in a string of revelations about the embattled organisation.

www.crikey.com.au

 

[Kurve]

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has told a Sydney court he believes his father was a "serial paedophile", and the responses to abuse allegations when they first came to light were not "all they should have been".

Hillsong founder Brian Houston tells court his father was a 'serial paedophile'

Hillsong founder Brian Houston tells a court the responses to abuse allegations made against his father were "not all they should have been".

www.abc.net.au

 

[BFew]

The heat is on.

'Fraud, money laundering and tax evasion': Wilkie tables Hillsong whistleblower documents

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has tabled a cache of internal Hillsong documents that he alleges reveal the church breaking numerous laws in Australia and internationally.

www.crikey.com.au

 

[BFew]

The heat is on.

'Fraud, money laundering and tax evasion': Wilkie tables Hillsong whistleblower documents

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has tabled a cache of internal Hillsong documents that he alleges reveal the church breaking numerous laws in Australia and internationally.

www.crikey.com.au

A sister article (part 2) to the above part 1 (both articles just published today).

Why the Hillsong whistleblower files matter: the case for government action

New revelations from internal Hillsong documents shared by independent MP Andrew Wilkie show the need for greater scrutiny of Australian charities — and the bodies that regulate them.

www.crikey.com.au