Church of Ireland general synod: The general synod decided by a large majority in Armagh yesterday to include its child protection code of practice, "Safeguarding Trust", within the canonical system of the Church of Ireland.
The Bishop of Cork, the Right Rev Paul Colton, said the passing of the bill at the church's synod would place beyond doubt that "Safeguarding Trust' must be adhered to.
Canon Philip Patterson, Down and Dromore diocese, said the bill was "ill-conceived, unnecessary and was overkill", not least in a church which accepted that canon law was subject to civil law. "The law of the land does not need to be bolstered by canon law," he said. Where implementing the code of practice was concerned, it would "make mandatory what is impossible" in some situations.
The Rev Eithne Lynch, Cork diocese, pointed out that the code of practice could be changed if it was not working out.
The Rev Daniel Hewson, Cork, said failure to pass the bill would send out an "unthinkable" signal. "We owe it to our children (to do so), but also to our (youth) leaders. There can be no excuses for not implementing the code."
Dean Desmond Harman, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, urged support for the bill.
Replying, Bishop Colton said that, where impracticalities in implementation of the code of practice were involved, "the beauty of this bill is that it enshrines the principle of good practice in the care of children. It doesn't enshrine the detail, which is constantly changing."
The bill was passed by 223 votes to 68, with 16 abstentions.
It means the Church of Ireland is the first church in the Anglican Communion to give its child protection code full legislative status.
A second bill providing for the funding of child protection offices in the church was also passed by the general synod. Each parish will contribute €165 a year for these offices, one in the North and one in the South.
