AUSTRALIA
The Advertiser
By NIGEL HUNT
05nov05
A NEW screening process for ministers and lay office holders in the Adelaide Diocese of the Anglican Church is among the most rigid in Australia.
The Safe Ministry Check, designed to weed out pedophiles in the church, is the first major initiative of new Anglican Archbishop Jeffrey Driver.
Finalised this week, the 10-page questionnaire is now in place for new ministers and lay office holders and is likely to also be extended to all church office holders. Archbishop Driver said yesterday the Adelaide diocese was among the first in Australia to implement the screening initiative, which was discussed at last year's general synod.
"I think if you compare it with the sorts of background checks in other organisations, it is pretty rigorous," he said.