Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Measure 2013

6 Suspension of priest or deacon

(1) Section 36 of the Measure is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), after paragraph (b) there are added the word “or” and the following paragraphs—

“(c) a priest or deacon holding any preferment in a diocese is convicted of any offence mentioned in section 30(1)(a) above, or

(d) a priest or deacon holding any preferment in a diocese is included in a barred list,”.

(3) In subsection (3), after the words “subsection (1)”, in both places where they occur, there are added the words “(a) or (b)”.

(4) After subsection (3) there is added the following subsection—

“(3A) Where a notice of suspension is served under subsection (1)(c) or (d) above and it has not been revoked under subsection (2), the suspension shall continue until the expiry of the period of three months following service of the notice or until a penalty is imposed on the priest or deacon under section 30(1) above, whichever occurs earlier, save that a further notice of suspension under subsection (1)(c) or (d) may be served pending conclusion of any step taken under section 30(2) or (4), and this subsection shall apply in relation to the further suspension as it applied to the earlier suspension or suspensions.”.

(5) In the heading to section 36, the words after the word “deacon” are omitted.