The Sydney diocese questionnaire also asks about any involvement in the
occult, whether priests have been cruel to animals, their attitudes to
alcohol and any convictions for driving offences.

The use of internet chat rooms and ography comes under scrutiny in
the eight-page document approved by the diocese's professional standards
committee, a copy of which has been obtained by The Australian.

Under a section called child protection and criminal conduct, priests
are asked whether they have ever been charged with an offence or been
the subject of an investigation, faced a traffic offence in court, had
their driver's licence revoked or suspended or been the subject of an
apprehended order.

Other questions include any history of gambling, homosexual
relationships or charges of ual misconduct with persons under the age
of consent.

Compulsory for prospective priests and those transferring to the
diocese, the questionnaire, introduced in recent weeks, will also be
given to priests and deacons wanting to renew their licences to preach
and administer the sacraments. Applicants answering yes to some of the
questions could be rejected.

The questionnaire has been criticised by some bishops as being too
intimate and precluding any thought of repentance, forgiveness and
healing, as well as fears it could lead to dishonesty rather than
frankness.

Philip Gerber, of the child protection committee of the Anglican General
Synod, said the Sydney diocese thought it best to introduce the
questionnaire "sooner rather than later".

But he said not all of the 23 Anglican dioceses in Australia would
follow suit. A police check of prospective priests is common practice
even in states where the law does not make it obligatory, especially if
they will be working with children.

A debate on the recommendations of the General Synod's working group
will take place in October, and an attempt made to have a unified
national approach. It is expected some dioceses will want modifications,
but general agreement is expected.

The questionnaire comes after the National Council of Churches called 60
representatives together in Canberra recently from the Anglican,
Catholic, Uniting, Lutheran, Salvation Army, Greek Orthodox, Quaker,
Churches of Christ, Coptic Orthodox, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist and
Presbyterian churches to discuss ual abuse.

Council general secretary John Henderson said the churches were "now
ready to come together around the table and tell their stories, listen
more intently to victims, and to develop a positive culture in which
abuse and misconduct will not take place".

END