Vic: Church inquiry into misconduct of country priest
By Charisse Ede
MELBOURNE, Aug 29 AAP - The Anglican Church is holding an internal inquiry into claimsof "disgraceful" conduct by a retired priest in central Victoria.
The registrar of the Diocese of Wangaratta, Dr John Pryor, said five people from aVictorian parish had brought a "statement of charge" against a former rector.
He would not say what the claims were, but said any statement of charge must relateto behaviour that would bring the church into disrepute, including sexual or financialmisconduct.
"It's a charge that claims that conduct is disgraceful to the clergy," he said.
It is the first time any claim has been made against a member of the diocese in its100-year history.
Dr Pryor said the diocese established a board of inquiry at the end of July to investigatethe claims and a preliminary report was due within six weeks.
He said if the board determined there was a prima facie case to be answered, the finalreport would be referred to the chancellor of the diocese, who is also a Federal Courtjudge.
"She will look at the report and make a decision as to whether the matter should betried through our own system," he said.
"She may also decide it should go before the (criminal) courts."
If the matter went through the church system, a four-member Diocesan tribunal wouldbe established to form a judgment.
He said if the rector was found guilty, he could be rebuked, denied a licence or deposedof his holy orders, depending on the severity of the judgment.
Dr Pryor said if the complainants took the matter to the police, or the chancellorreferred it to the courts, the church would drop its inquiry.
He said the diocese referred a "related matter" to the police before the statementof charge was received, but the police could not take action.
Dr Pryor said he could not name the rector, but he retired "quite some years ago".
AAP ce/clr/ph/de
KEYWORD: ANGLICAN
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