The founder of the Sydney-based global Hillsong Church, Mr. Brian H., has been charged with concealing child sex offenses, police said Thursday.

Detectives served Mr. H’s lawyers on Thursday with a notice for him to appear in a Sydney court on Oct. 5 for allegedly concealing a serious indictable offense, police said.

Police will allege in court the man knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police, police said.

Mr. H, 67, suggested the charges related to allegations that his preacher father had abused a boy over several years in the 1970s.

These charges have come as a shock to me given how transparent I’ve always been about this matter, Mr. H said. I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight, he added.

Mr. H has a huge influence on the Australian government as at least three top ministers are linked to his religious organisation.

But his case may be much more complicated, as a retrospection of certain facts suggests.


White House did not allow Mr. H to stand next to the President of the United States

But in 2019 White House refused to invite Mr. H. to the state dinner for the praise of Australia at the Rose Garden. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, that Mr. H be invited to a 2019 state dinner hosted by then-President Donald Trump.

The media speculated, what appeared to be however high likelihood, that reason for non-invite was the inquiry’s findings and the ensuing police investigation. Security agencies including FBI, CIA and the Secret Service vet every possible guest who may appear next to the President of the United States.

Mr. Morrison said he didn’t know why Mr. H. wasn’t invited.