October 20, 2005

CHURCH ACTS: Bishop vows to stamp out sex abuse

AUSTRALIA
The Advertiser

By NIGEL HUNT
21oct05
ADELAIDE Anglican Archbishop-elect Jeffrey Driver has moved decisively to weed out pedophiles in the church by introducing strict new screening and professional standards.

Bishop Driver, who will be installed as Archbishop of the Adelaide Diocese tonight, will immediately introduce the extensive screening measures for new ministers and lay office holders.

They will be backed with a detailed code of conduct and increased education programs for all of the church's office holders.

Bishop Driver also plans to expand the new screening process, which involves extensive background checks and a statutory declaration, to all church ministers and lay office holders.

In an extensive interview with The Advertiser, Bishop Driver revealed he had met church lawyers and urged them to resolve outstanding compensation claims from victims of sexual abuse as soon as possible.

Posted by kshaw at October 20, 2005 11:30 AM