Anglican Bishops of Victoria Reaffirm Child Protection Measures

Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
November 29, 2013

http://www.melbourne.anglican.com.au/NewsAndViews/Pages/Anglican-Bishops-of-Victoria-reaffirm-child-protection-measures-000490.aspx

The Anglican Bishops of Victoria reaffirm their resolve to work to strengthen the child protection measures already in place in the five dioceses that make up the Province of Victoria.

“We have worked together to scrutinise our protocols and ensure they meet the high standards we expect of clergy and church workers. 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,” said the bishops. “The welfare of the victims is paramount.”

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. The Register is one of the sources of information used by the Anglican Church in ensuring that clergy are cleared to carry out ministry.

Archbishop Freier said, “We welcome the report by the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry and the work of the Royal Commission.”

Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Revd Dr Philip Freier

Bishop of Ballarat, the Right Revd Garry Weatherill

Bishop of Bendigo, the Right Revd Andrew Curnow AM

Bishop of Gippsland, the Right Revd John McIntyre

Bishop of Wangaratta, the Right Revd John Parkes AM