Dr Aspinall has asked the diocese’s professional standards commission to review the policies, and to see whether Australia should adopt the policy currently in force in the Church of England, which takes the victim’s views into account.
The Australian reported that under the current protocol, three clergy have been defrocked. In 2005, 29 cases were reported to the Church. Only one complaint was filed last year and none have been submitted this year ”“ there were no active investigations, the diocese reported.
The House of Bishops’ policy and its accompanying guidance ”˜Protecting all God’s Children’ and government guidelines found in ”˜Working together to Safeguard Children 2006’ forms the basis of diocesan policies in Britain.