Sydney Catholic Bishop Richard Umbers stands back from public duties amid abuse investigation

One of Sydney’s most senior Catholic bishops has stood aside from his public duties, as the church investigates a claim of historical abuse which the bishop ‘emphatically denies’.

Archdiocese of Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Richard Umbers has stepped back from public duties amid an investigation into a historic abuse claim. Picture: Getty Images

One of Sydney’s most senior Catholic bishops has stood aside from his public duties as the church investigates a claim of historical abuse.

In a statement attached to Archdiocese of Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Richard Umbers’ online biography, Vicar-General Samuel Lynch confirmed the archdiocese “has received notice of a civil claim of historical abuse” and Umbers had been “identified as the subject of this claim”.

“Bishop Umbers emphatically denies the allegation,” the statement read.

“In accordance with its obligations, the Archdiocese has notified the relevant authorities of the complaint.

“In conformity with the Archdiocesan protocol for managing safeguarding complaints and relevant legislation, Bishop Umbers has agreed to stand aside from public ministry while this allegation is investigated.”

Archdiocese of Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Richard Umbers. Picture: Facebook

Bishop Umbers, 54, is second only to Archbishop Anthony Fisher in the hierarchy of the Sydney Catholic archdiocese.

NSW Police told The Saturday Telegraph police were “not aware” of the allegations and “there is no current investigation”.

Statement from the Vicar-General the Very Reverend Samuel Lynch.

New Zealand-born Umbers was Australia’s youngest bishop when he was appointed as one of Sydney’s auxiliary bishops in 2016 by the late Pope Francis, having previously held chaplaincy roles at Opus Dei private school Redfield College and UNSW’s Warrane College.

His Sydney Catholic biography states that he “regularly addresses gatherings of youth” and “has an interest in social media”.

“Memes, done right, can be a highly effective way of sharing ideas in our social media world,” Bishop Umbers is quoted as saying.

On a recent podcast, the bishop described the first years of his appointment as being like “the first 10 minutes” of Sandra Bullock’s Oscar-winning 2013 sci-fi film Gravity “where she’s just spinning and spinning and spinning”.

“The spinning does come to a stop.”

Bishop Richard Umbers live-streaming a service at St Paul of the Cross Church in 2020 amid Covid restrictions. Picture: Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph recently revealed that more than 1000 historical child abuse complaints have been lodged against NSW churches, schools and other institutions by just one law firm on behalf of their clients.

Shine Lawyers are currently working on nearly 200 cases involving government and non-government schools, including private and Catholic colleges.