John Hepworth
Encyclopedia
John Anthony Hepworth is an Australia
n bishop. He is currently the primate
and archbishop
of the Traditional Anglican Communion
, an international body of continuing Anglican churches. He is also the ordinary of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia
.
Hepworth began his seminary studies in 1960 at St Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide. In 1968 he was ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church
for the Archdiocese of Adelaide
. In 1972 he moved to Britain. After returning to Australia in 1976 he was received into the Anglican Church of Australia
as a priest. From 1976 to 1977 he had permission to officiate in the Anglican Diocese of Ballarat
. From 1977 to 1978 he was the assistant priest in the Colac
parish and, from 1978 to 1980, was the rector of the South Ballarat parish based in Sebastopol
.
In 1992 Hepworth joined the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia. In 1996 he was consecrated as an assistant bishop and in 1998 he became the diocesan bishop. In 2002 he was elected primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion in succession to Louis Falk
. He is currently involved in a process to create an Australian ordinariate
for former Anglicans in the Roman Catholic Church.
Hepworth has a degree in political science and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Adelaide
in 1982 with a thesis about Catholic Action
entitled "The Movement Revisited: A South Australian Perspective". For five years he was a lecturer in politics at the Northern Territory University before becoming co-ordinator of international studies at the University of South Australia
. In 1998 he was elected to the Australian Constitutional Convention
as a member of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
. He formerly chaired the Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Committee in South Australia.
Hepworth is heard regularly on Adelaide's 5AA radio station where he acts as a political commentator on the conservative Leon Byner Show. He has been married twice and has three children.
Hepworth claims that he was a victim of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in Australia during the 1960s and 1970s. He has alleged that he was raped on numerous occasions by three priests during his seminary studies.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n bishop. He is currently the primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
and archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Traditional Anglican Communion
Traditional Anglican Communion
The Traditional Anglican Communion is an international communion of churches in the continuing Anglican movement independent of the Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The TAC upholds the theological doctrines of the Affirmation of St. Louis and an Anglo-Catholic interpretation of...
, an international body of continuing Anglican churches. He is also the ordinary of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia
Anglican Catholic Church in Australia
The Anglican Catholic Church in Australia is the regional jurisdiction of the Traditional Anglican Communion for most of Australia and also provides episcopal oversight for New Zealand and Japan...
.
Hepworth began his seminary studies in 1960 at St Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide. In 1968 he was ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
for the Archdiocese of Adelaide
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia....
. In 1972 he moved to Britain. After returning to Australia in 1976 he was received into the Anglican Church of Australia
Anglican Church of Australia
The Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
as a priest. From 1976 to 1977 he had permission to officiate in the Anglican Diocese of Ballarat
Anglican Diocese of Ballarat
The Anglican Diocese of Ballarat extends across the south-west region of Victoria, Australia. It is one of the five Anglican Church of Australia dioceses in the Ecclesiastical province of Victoria. The bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Ballarat.-List of...
. From 1977 to 1978 he was the assistant priest in the Colac
Colac, Victoria
Colac is a small city located in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, situated approximately 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne on the southern shore of Lake Colac and the surrounding volcanic plains, approximately 40 km inland from Bass Strait. Colac is the largest city in and...
parish and, from 1978 to 1980, was the rector of the South Ballarat parish based in Sebastopol
Sebastopol, Victoria
Sebastopol is a southern suburb on the rural-urban fringe of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. It is the second most populated area in urban Ballarat with a population of 8,045 at the 2006 census....
.
In 1992 Hepworth joined the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia. In 1996 he was consecrated as an assistant bishop and in 1998 he became the diocesan bishop. In 2002 he was elected primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion in succession to Louis Falk
Louis Falk
Louis Wahl Falk III is the President of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America. Until 2002 he was the Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, an international body of continuing Anglican churches....
. He is currently involved in a process to create an Australian ordinariate
Personal Ordinariate
A personal ordinariate is a canonical structure within the Catholic Church enabling former Anglicans to maintain some degree of corporate identity and autonomy with regard to the bishops of the geographical dioceses of the Catholic Church and to preserve elements of their distinctive Anglican...
for former Anglicans in the Roman Catholic Church.
Hepworth has a degree in political science and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in 1982 with a thesis about Catholic Action
Catholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
entitled "The Movement Revisited: A South Australian Perspective". For five years he was a lecturer in politics at the Northern Territory University before becoming co-ordinator of international studies at the University of South Australia
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
. In 1998 he was elected to the Australian Constitutional Convention
Australian Constitutional Convention 1998
The Australian Constitutional Convention 1998 was a Constitutional Convention which gathered at Old Parliament House, Canberra from 2–13 February 1998. It was called by the Howard Government to discuss whether Australia should become a republic...
as a member of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy is a group that aims to preserve Australia's current constitutional monarchy, with Elizabeth II as Queen of Australia...
. He formerly chaired the Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Committee in South Australia.
Hepworth is heard regularly on Adelaide's 5AA radio station where he acts as a political commentator on the conservative Leon Byner Show. He has been married twice and has three children.
Hepworth claims that he was a victim of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in Australia during the 1960s and 1970s. He has alleged that he was raped on numerous occasions by three priests during his seminary studies.