The Anglican Archbishop of Perth, Roger Herft, has stood aside from his role after admitting to a Royal Commission he failed to act on allegations a priest was abusing children.
Archbishop Roger Herft, who was head of the Newcastle Diocese in New South Wales between 1993 and 2005, was alerted to a sexual abuse complaint involving four men in 2003.
One of the men, Peter Rushton, was later revealed as the 'king pin' of a church paedophile ring who preyed on children at St Alban's, a boy's home at Cessnock.
During evidence at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in late August, Archbishop Herft conceded alarm bells should have rung amid allegations a senior NSW clergyman had his "own group of boys" and had abused a priest's son.
On Monday, he voluntarily stood aside from his role, effective immediately, after describing the Royal Commission as a "challenging time".
"I have taken this decision after much prayer, thought and consultation with my advisors to allow for the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Perth to flourish," he said.
"I believe this is the appropriate decision while I focus my attention on the Royal Commission's ongoing inquiry into the Diocese of Newcastle.
"I am humbled by the courage and fortitude of survivors and victims of child sexual abuse as they continue to bear witness to their stories of suffering."
Accused paedophile Rushton died in 2007 and was never convicted.
The ABC reported in July that Rushton and his lover, Brother Jim Brown, infiltrated St Alban's boys home by becoming board members and taking boys home for weekends.
"He used to lock you in the room and other people would come in and out of that room but sometimes he would come in that room as well," abuse victim Paul Gray told 7.30.
Mr Gray also recalled being taken camping by Rushton and being chased by paedophiles in a terrifying game of hide and seek.
Archbishop Herft told the Royal Commission that he was "deeply fooled" by Rushton, who he thought had "changed" after an incident where he discovered child pornography in Rushton's home.
"After the pornography matter, I found his whole demeanour had changed," Archbishop Herft said.
"Deep in my heart I felt he had repented."
At the end of his three days giving evidence at the Royal Commission, Archbishop Herft apologised to the survivors of sexual abuse who he had "let down".
Bishop Kate Wilmot has been appointed administrator of the Diocese of Perth in his absence.