Anglican Church announces initiative against abuse

CAPE TOWN - The Anglican Church is set to establish a church-wide network of officials to keep people safe from abuse.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba announced the initiative on Thursday after a meeting of the church's synod of bishops.

The announcement follows an inquiry related to the church's failure to warn congregants about the presence of John Smyth in 2013.

Smyth was a British expatriate who abused dozens of boys and young men in Britain and Zimbabwe in the 1980s and 1990s.

Archbishop Makgoba said that every congregation would appoint safe church officers who would provide support throughout the country.

Makgoba said that the bishops also adopted procedures to prevent members accused of abuse from moving to other churches without warning.

The archbishop said that a church commission of specialists to provide support in cases of abuse had also been formally established.