BishopAccountability.org
 
  Anglican Sex Abuse Rules 'Not Working'

By Craig Bildstien
The Advertiser [Australia]
March 2, 2006

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18316663%255E2682,00.html

NATIONAL rules governing the behaviour of priests and lay preachers - introduced by the Anglican Church following controversy over its handling of sexual abuse claims - are not working properly.

South Australian church leaders will develop their own uniform system of professional standards.

The head of the Murray Diocese, Bishop Ross Davies, told The Advertiser the new national protocols - which allow complaints to be investigated independently of the clergy - have produced "a minefield of legal problems".

Bishop Davies, who studied law before becoming a priest, said there were concerns "about a raft of stuff", including the constitutional validity of some of the changes.

Together with Adelaide Archbishop Jeff Driver and Willochra Bishop Garry Weatherill, Bishop Davies hoped SA could establish one Professional Standards Committee next year to service the whole state.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.