Exposing Corruption and Spiritual Abuse: Fraud and Deceptive Conduct by the Sydney Diocese at St Paul’s Bankstown

Spiritual Bullying & Brainwashing at St Paul’s: The AHRC & ICAC Must Act – More Damning Evidence Emerges

This is our fifth story in this series exposing recent observations from the 'Friends SaintPauls' YouTube channel, which have brought alarming new details to light. The unfolding situation at St Paul's Anglican Church in Bankstown reveals a deeply concerning pattern of spiritual manipulation, potential legal breaches, and coercive tactics employed by church leaders. As the Anglican Diocese of Sydney moves forward with its redevelopment plans, significant ethical and human rights issues are becoming increasingly apparent. It is imperative that ICAC & The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) conduct a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and justice. The evidence continues to mount, demanding an end to the silence.

A Church Under Siege: The History

St Paul’s Anglican Church has been a vital spiritual and community hub in Bankstown for decades. Now, it faces demolition to make way for a commercial redevelopment project championed by the Diocese. The Diocese argues this redevelopment is necessary for financial sustainability and mission renewal, claiming the current building is underutilized and outdated.

However, these claims ring hollow against the backdrop of fierce opposition from parishioners who cherish the church’s historical, spiritual, and cultural significance. More troublingly, transcripts of sermons and announcements reveal that church ministers have employed manipulative tactics to coerce parishioners into supporting the Diocese’s plans, undermining trust and community cohesion.

Coercion in the Pews: The Ministers’ Own Words, Unfiltered

Rev Kitty Wang (June 29, 2023):

"God should be in charge of this church... If St Paul’s is heritage listed, the church will be forced to hand over its sovereignty to the government... You are all Christians; you should trust and obey in God... Do you wish God in charge of this church or the government in charge of this church? If you support God in charge of this church, please sign this heritage petition to vote against the heritage order... If you have already signed this petition, you are telling council you want God in charge not council (government)... What you must do now is not let the church become a heritage building. That way we can have complete sovereignty as our church belongs to God and not belongs to this secular world... Whether the church will be rebuilt or not this is not your business. It is the archbishops and ministers business, it should not be your concern... For this reason you don’t have to worry about it."

Rev John Bartik:

"We’re working towards a new future. We’re working towards a full redevelopment... our plans can get completely derailed by what’s called a heritage order... now is the time where we need to fight by simply adding your name to this petition and say we the parishioners are happy for this building because we believe it’s just a shell. The church is the people and we oppose a heritage order so that either us or the church of the future has freedom to knock it down and build a new better one if we so wish."

"Please Lord, preserve this building as a place that is free. That we can do what we wish with it. So that future generations would be served in the best possible way, not in a way that is preserved only the memory of the efforts of a few."

Lay leader reading during Rev. Wang's service following discussion about the heritage order:

"Our father we ask you to bless our two ministers they are both good shepherds and God sent... Lord we ask you to give our ministers wisdom because he is guided by the Holy Spirit everything he does is God’s will, if Satan dares to challenge Lord you will tie down their hands and feet, let God’s will be fulfilled and victory be declared." Click here to watch all the videos.

These statements are not mere appeals to faith; they are calculated attempts to manipulate parishioners through fear, guilt, and exploitation of their religious beliefs. The message is clear: to be a “good Christian,” one must blindly support the Diocese’s redevelopment plans and oppose heritage protections, regardless of personal convictions or concerns. This is spiritual blackmail, and it has no place in a free and just society.

“Faithfulness in Service”: A Code Trampled

The Anglican Church of Australia’s Faithfulness in Service code is designed to guide clergy conduct with integrity, respect, and pastoral care. It emphasises:

• Respect for parishioners’ dignity and autonomy.
• Avoidance of abuse of power or spiritual authority.
• Honesty, transparency, and accountability.
• Commitment to pastoral responsibility without coercion or manipulation.

The ministers’ conduct at St Paul’s flagrantly violates these principles by:

• Abusing Power: Using spiritual authority to pressure and intimidate parishioners.
• Breaching Trust: Misleading parishioners about heritage listing consequences and redevelopment plans.
• Spiritual Abuse: Threatening and manipulating parishioners under the guise of divine will.
• Lack of Transparency: Withholding full and accurate information, relying instead on fear-mongering rhetoric.

This goes far beyond a simple difference of opinion; it represents a serious violation of ethical standards and a profound betrayal of the sacred trust entrusted to these ministers. As someone who recently authored Faithfulness in Service: The Evolution of Anglican Doctrine and Civil Rights in Australia, I am deeply troubled by these developments. A formal complaint has now been lodged with the Professional Standards Commission regarding the conduct of the clergy involved in this matter.

Watch the Videos for Yourself! The Absolutely Disgraceful Conduct Unveiled!

Back to Top

📚 St Paul's Bankstown Investigation Series

A comprehensive investigation into corruption, spiritual abuse, and the fight to save a sacred space

Part	Title	Date	Read Time
Part 1	Bankstown's Battle: The Fight to Save St Paul's Anglican Church	May 30, 2025	8 min
Part 2	St Paul's Bankstown: Unholy Alliances? - Property, Power, and the Fight for a Sacred Space	May 31, 2025	7 min
Part 3	St Paul's Bankstown: A Decade-Long Heritage Battle Faces Imminent Demolition	June 1, 2025	16 min
Part 4	St. Paul's Under Threat: Bankstown Council's Legacy of Dodgy Deals	June 1, 2025	15 min
Part 5	Exposing Corruption and Spiritual Abuse: Fraud and Deceptive Conduct by the Sydney Diocese at St Paul's Bankstown	June 2, 2025	8 min

📢 Stay Updated: This is an ongoing investigation. New developments and evidence continue to emerge as the community fights to save St Paul's Anglican Church.

Total Reading Time: ~54 minutes

📝 Editor's Note - 20 June 2025

Since publication, the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia has confirmed they have passed on our complaint regarding the Diocese of Sydney to the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) about the conduct of clergy at St Pauls Bankstown. General Secretary Anne Hywood stated that "The General Synod cannot intervene further in a safe ministry issue in a diocese" and will not engage with the substance of the complaint. The PSU remains the designated contact for progressing this matter. This development underscores the institutional challenges facing accountability within the Anglican Church structure.

📝 Editor's Note - 20 July 2025

It has been brought to our attention that the Archbishop of Sydney’s office has duly acknowledged and remedied a regrettable fault within the Safe Ministry email system, which resulted in the unfortunate loss of important communications. An apology has been graciously extended for any distress caused. Mr. Shane St Reynolds, who first raised this matter, has since entrusted the Save St Paul’s Bankstown cause to legal counsel, withdrawing from further involvement. This development is a welcome stride towards greater transparency and accountability. In light of this development this article has been updated.