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	Church Gets Tough on Sex Offenders The Australian June 22, 2008 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23903828-12377,00.html THE Anglican Diocese of Brisbane has toughened its policy on sex offenders, banning priests from the church as soon as they are convicted. The synod of the diocese, sitting in Brisbane this weekend, amended the professional standards to strengthen current protocols for dealing with sex offenders. Brisbane Archbishop Dr Phillip Aspinall said the changes meant a clergy person convicted of a criminal offence by a court would be removed as a priest much faster. "Anyone charged with sexual abuse is suspended immediately, and if they are convicted, their licence is removed," Dr Aspinall said. "The changes made today at synod mean that a separate church hearing into the facts of the matter will no longer be necessary where a clergy person has been convicted of a sexual offence." The person will still have the right to appeal to church authorities, but that process will now be quicker. The synod also improved its protocol for dealing with complaints of sexual abuse. The changes give specific guidelines for dealing with child sexual abuse, and emphasise the need to inform police when a complaint is lodged.
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