BishopAccountability.org
 
  Defrocked Anglican Priest Loses Court Challenge

ABC Newcastle
September 28, 2011

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-28/priest-court-loss/3026418/?site=newcastle

A former New South Wales Central Coast priest, pursuing legal action against the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, has had his court application dismissed.

The former Reverend John Gumbley sought to have his 'Spiritual Journals' returned after they were used as evidence in a Professional Standards Board hearing last year.

Mr Gumbley was defrocked after the Board found he had breached the Anglican Code of Conduct by having a sexual relationship with a woman, while he was the parish priest at Saint Marks at Terrigal.

In Newcastle District Court today, Judge Margaret Sidis dismissed the application and he was ordered to pay costs.

The Diocese's head of Professional Standards, Michael Elliott has welcomed the court decision.

"The Diocese stands by its policies and procedures for addressing misconduct of clergy and Church workers and will continue to treat allegations of misconduct seriously," he said.



 
 

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