The fight to expose the sexual abuse of children in Churches and Christian institutions has heroes as well as villains.

Two of the bravest whistle-blowers were Adelaide Anglican Ministers Don Owers and Andrew King. After failing in a four-year-long attempt to get the church to admit the seriousness of sexual abuse cases in the Diocese, Owers and King went public holding a press conference in defiance of their Archbishop Ian George.

Robert Brandenburg, a youth leader, abused at least 80 young boys involved in the Church of England Boys Society that he lead for almost 40 years. The Brandenburg pedophile ring is believed to have operated across three states.

When Owers became the local Minister at Magill Church where Brandenburg attended, he inherited the mess. Andrew King got involved as a dying man, because his brother was a victim of a pedophile.

An independent inquiry set up in the wake of Owers and King said of the Diocese: “Often, its first priority seemed to be one of protecting the church at all costs,” it said. “Even to the extent, on some occasions, of warning complainants that they could be sued for defamation if their complaints could not be substantiated.”

The Archbishop resigned. Victims were compensated. Brandenburg had already suicided. King died. Owers is now Principal of Tabor College Adelaide.