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	Defrocking Priests Won't Be Retrospective: Aspinall ABC News June 23, 2008 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/23/2282253.htm?site=idx-qld The Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane says a decision to automatically defrock priests convicted of child sex abuse will not be retrospective. Over the weekend, 600 church members met in Brisbane for their annual synod. Archbishop Phillip Aspinall says taking immediate action against offenders will ensure victims are not subjected to further stress and pain. "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." Hetty Johnston, from the Child Advocacy group Bravehearts, says the Anglican Church has come a long way under the leadership of Archbishop Aspinall. "This is really good news and I think it's an indication of a rising awareness across the entire community," she said. "[It's] particularly good to see it coming from the churches that there is acknowledgment that sexual assault is never the child's fault and is never acceptable. "We are really, really happy to see that the church is taking this on and understanding this for the serious issue that it is." Female bishops Delegates at the annual synod also moved a step closer to the ordination of Queensland's first female Bishop, approving a motion allowing women to become assistant bishops. Archbishop Aspinall says state church laws will be amended in March next year to ensure women can take the role in Queensland. "There was no great debate about it because there is strong support and has been for some time for the ordination of women as priests and as bishops in Brisbane," he said. "It was another opportunity for the synod to affirm that, but also to affirm that we recognise there are still some people opposed to it, but they will be cared for and their deep convictions respected."
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