ABC News
June 22, 2008
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/22/2282150.htm
The Anglican Church in Brisbane has voted to automatically de-frock priests who are jailed for child sex offences.
The unanimous decision was made at the Annual Synod in Brisbane this afternoon, along with the passing of a law which paves the way for women to become Bishops in the Brisbane diocese if a position becomes available.
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| The annual Synod debated issues of child sexual abuse and female Bishops, among other things. Photo by Joe Castro |
600 members of the Anglican Diocese in Brisbane voted unanimously to expel convicted priests.
Archbishop Phillip Aspinall says it will ensure these matters are dealt with quickly in future.
"The board will be able to proceed straight away to make a determination rather than having to retry the whole matter," he said.
"It is a big improvement because it doesn't require victims to have to go through a quite long and arduous church process as well as what they have had to go through in the court."
The change on sex offences only applies to future convictions and does not affect the case of paedophile priest Robert Sharwood who has been released from jail.
He still holds his holy orders and is the subject of a long-running review.
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