TRIAL OF CLERICS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 17977, 3 January 1933, Page 9

TRIAL OF CLERICS

CHANGES URGED STIFFKEY SPECTACLE LONDON, Nov. 24. It is expected that proposals will be put forward before long to the Church Assembly to amend the present procedure when a clergyman is accused of grave moral offences. Action in this matter has been precipitated following the unedifying spectacle which was presented by the prolonged proceedings connected with the prosecution of the rector of Stiffkey. Costs in that prosecution, so far as they have at present been computed, amounted to more than £SOOO. These were borne by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the body which has control of the ancient endowments of the Church of England. Until recently costs incurred in prosecuting a cleric fell upon the Bishop of the diocese, and in one case, same 10 years back, the expenses were so heavy that a public subscription had to be raised to liquidate the Bishop’s liability. A committee has recommended to the Church Assembly that the clergy of every diocese elect annually a disciplinary committee to investigate complaints against clerics. Such a committee, however, would not concern itself with _ criminal offenees or matters of doctrine, but in other 'respects it would ensure that an accused cleric would have the option of trial by a tribunal of his peers, in the same way that if a doctor docs ■wrong the accusation is investigated by doctors. This and other recommendations are to be considered by tlie convocn lions of Canterbury and York.