VICTORIAN Anglicans Conduct Abuse Probe

9 News
November 29, 2013

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/11/29/17/07/victorian-anglicans-conduct-abuse-probe

Victoria's Anglican bishops say they are in the process of checking all clergy files to ensure that any past instances of sexual abuse are known.

The bishops say they are working to strengthen child protection measures that are already in place in its five Victorian dioceses.

Friday's statement comes after evidence at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse about an Anglican Church institution in NSW.

The Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child abuse also recently handed down its report.

"We have worked together to scrutinise our protocols and ensure they meet the high standards we expect of clergy and church workers," the bishops said in a statement.

"We are completing the process of checking all clergy files to confirm that any past instance of abuse is known and has been dealt with properly. The welfare of the victims is paramount."

The statement said the Anglican Church has a national register of clergy where there has been a breach of professional standards, including any confirmed instance of child abuse.

It said the register was one way the church ensured the clergy are cleared to carry out ministry.