Megachurch Pastor Accused Of Child Rape Coverup Allegedly Told Victim “You Tempted My Father” [Video]

The Guardian reports:

Hillsong church founder Pastor Brian Houston allegedly told a man who had been repeatedly raped as a child by Houston’s father “you know this is all your fault, you tempted my father,” Sydney’s Downing Centre local court heard on Monday.

The man who was sexually assaulted by Pastor Frank Houston as a child said he was pressured by the church not to report it to “the secular courts” and told he would be abandoned by the church if he reported his assault to police.

Brian Houston’s father, Frank Houston, repeatedly raped and assaulted a young church member, Brett Sengstock, beginning when the boy was seven years old, in 1970.

Sydney’s ABC affiliate reports:

The Crown alleges documents show Brian Houston learnt of the allegations in late 1999, when he was a senior minister within a Pentecostal church. Prosecutors say Mr Houston had a legal requirement to report the claims to police, but attempted to resolve the matter internally.

The court has heard Frank Houston was defrocked as a minister shortly after the allegations came to light, and retired from the church before dying in 2004.

Brian Houston argues the victim did not want to go to police, and that presented a reasonable excuse for him not to report the matter to authorities. Giving evidence, alleged victim Brett Sengstock said he signed a dirty napkin in a McDonald’s car park for $10,000 after meeting with Frank Houston in the late 1990’s.

Hillsong’s Brian Houston allegedly told victim who had been raped by his father ‘it’s your fault’ https://t.co/NBzxgZzPeQ

— The Guardian (@guardian) December 5, 2022