AUSTRALIA
The Australian
Jeremy Roberts
May 09, 2005
FOR the second time in eight months, the Adelaide diocese of the Anglican Church will vote on a replacement for deposed archbishop Ian George, forced to resign last year over a child sex abuse scandal.
After failing to reach the required two-thirds majority last September, the diocese will try again on May 21 with a shortlist containing two Adelaide priests and two high-ranking clerics from Victoria.
The new shortlist presented to the 280-member election synod retains from the last election the Victorian head of welfare group Anglicare, Ray Cleary, who is probably the favourite.
Canon Cleary has worked in welfare agencies for 25 years and is known for a gentle pastoral approach that places confidence in lay parishioners and doesn't bully members of the clergy. He is favoured by church liberals.
The next archbishop will have to implement reforms to the handling of sex abuse complaints, and resolve internal divisions over the resignation of Dr George.