Hillsong Church Founder Cleared of Concealing Father's Child Sex Crimes

Brian Houston, the founder of Hillsong Church, has been found not guilty of concealing his father's child sex crimes by an Australian court. Houston, who resigned from his church roles after being charged, was accused of breaching the Hillsong Pastor's Code of Conduct. The court ruled that Houston had a reasonable excuse for not reporting the offenses to the police, as he believed the victim did not want the abuse reported. The victim expressed disappointment with the verdict, blaming the church for not reporting the abuse. Houston acknowledged his father's crimes and expressed sadness for the victims. Hillsong Church released a statement acknowledging the ruling and hoping for healing for the victims.