By Ed Beavan
Religious Intelligence
October 25, 2007
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1077
THE Church of England today confirmed every diocese in the country will appoint an independent reviewer to look over files of clergy and church employees as part of a systematic review of child protection.
The broad principles for the new procedure were outlined today following an announcement by the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year after two high profile cases of child abuse in the Church of England.
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In April former Hampshire choirmaster Peter Halliday was jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting a trail of abuse back in the 1980s.
It emerged his suffragan bishop had been told of the abuse but allowed him to 'leave quietly'. Then in May Somerset priest the Rev David Smith was jailed for five-and-a-half years for abusing boys over a 30-year period.
The review will see each diocesan bishop initiate a review which will include clergy, retired priests, diocesan lay employees and readers. An independent reviewer will then be appointed by each bishop to review the files to assess whether any 'causes for concern' exist.
Each diocesan bishop will also write to previous bishops, archdeacons, bishops' chaplains and secretarial staff to ask whether they have any information about any cases of abuse or concerns from the past which were not followed up at the time in the way that they would be now.
Additionally, any concerns expressed by other clergy or churchgoers will be included in the list for the reviewer, and any urgent issues that arise will be referred to the relevant statutory authorities.
The reviewer will pass the portfolio to the Diocesan Child Protection Management Group to formulate an action plan to be led by the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser.
The protocol is currently being finalised in light of feedback from the House of Bishops to a draft text.
The Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford and Chair of the Church's Central Safeguarding Liaison Group, which produced the draft protocol, said the House of Bishops is deeply committed to the safeguarding of all children.
He said: "Children deserve the very best care, nurture and teaching the Church is able to provide whatever the context of their contact with the Church. "This model protocol is a significant step for the Church in the continuing efforts to minimize any possible risk to children or young people."
The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Rt Rev George Cassidy, welcomed the move, and said: "This independent review is an important step for us in minimizing any possible risk to children or young people. They each deserve the best care, nurture and teaching that the church is able to provide and we are firmly committed to safeguarding all children in our care."
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