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

Hillsong pastor Brian Houston has entered pleas after arriving in Sydney to face allegations he concealed his father’s child sexual abuse.

Hillsong founder Brian Houston will plead not guilty to allegations he concealed his father’s child sexual abuse, his lawyer has told a court.

Mr Houston, 67, was not required to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday morning as his matter was mentioned for the first time.

The pastor for the powerful evangelical mega-church emerged from hotel quarantine in Sydney last week.

He was in the United States when his lawyer was served with a court attendance notice relating to one charge of concealing the serious indictable offence of another person.

A lawyer for the evangelical pastor entered a not guilty plea.

Police will allege Mr Houston knew from September 1999 that his father Frank Houston had indecently assaulted a male in 1970.

In court documents it is alleged Mr Houston failed to tell the authorities, despite believing his father had committed the assault, and knowing he had information that might help a prosecution.

The period of the charge is from September 15, 1999 to November 9, 2004, the day after Frank Houston’s death.

Hills Police Area Command began investigating reports Mr Houston had knowingly concealed information related to child sex offences in 2019.

After “extensive” investigations, detectives handed the brief to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, who provided advice before Mr Houston was charged.

In a statement in August, Mr Houston said “I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.”

The matter will return to court on November 23.

Originally published as Hillsong founder Brian Houston pleads not guilty to concealing child sexual abuse