Clergy Discipline Measure 2003

31 Sentences of imprisonment and matrimonial orders; bishops and archbishops

(1) If a person who is a bishop or archbishop—

(a) is convicted (whether in England or elsewhere) of an offence and such a sentence as is mentioned in section 30(1) above is passed on him, or

(b) has a decree of divorce or an order of separation made against him following a finding of adultery, behaviour in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent or desertion and, in the case of divorce, the decree has been made absolute,

he shall be liable without further proceedings to a penalty of removal from office or prohibition (whether for life or limited) or both.

(2) Where a person is liable to a penalty of removal from office or prohibition or both by virtue of subsection (1) above and the archbishop concerned proposes to impose such a penalty, he shall, after consultation with the president of tribunals, inform that person in writing of that proposal, together with an invitation to send representations in writing to the archbishop within the period of twenty-eight days. On the expiry of that period the archbishop shall decide whether or not to impose the penalty and shall inform that person in writing of the decision. If the decision is to impose a penalty, that person may—

(a) if he is a bishop, request the other archbishop, or

(b) if he is an archbishop, request the president of tribunals,

to review the decision and upon such a review the archbishop or the president of tribunals, as the case may be, may uphold or reverse the decision after consideration of all the circumstances, including any representations made under this subsection.

(3) A penalty shall not be imposed under this section after the expiry of the period of two years beginning with the date on which the sentence becomes conclusive or, as the case may be, the decree absolute or order is made.

(4) Where a penalty is to be imposed under this section it shall be imposed—

(a) in the case of a person who is a bishop, by the archbishop of the relevant province after consultation with the two senior diocesan bishops of the province, and

(b) in the case of a person who is an archbishop, by the other archbishop after consultation as aforesaid.

(5) When imposing a penalty under this section the archbishop shall be attended by the registrar of his province. The penalty shall be reduced to writing and a copy thereof shall be recorded in the registry of the province concerned and sent to the archbishop concerned.

(6) The functions exercisable under this section by the archbishop of the relevant province shall, during the absence abroad or incapacity through illness of the archbishop or a vacancy in the see, be exercisable by the other archbishop.

(7) In this section “bishop” means any diocesan bishop, any suffragan bishop and any other bishop.