The Church Council has asked the primary committee of the church convention to prepare proposals for an investigative committee to review the church’s work methods and reactions in regard to allegations that former Bishop Ólafur Skúlason committed sexual violations.
The church in Seydisfjördur, east Iceland. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
The proposals shall be submitted at the next church convention on November 13, Fréttabladid reports.
Pétur Hafstein, president of the church convention, said the committee’s members will be completely independent from all of the church’s institutions and the state’s ministries.
He said the goal is for the investigative committee to submit its conclusions no later than one year after the committee is appointed, preferably earlier.
Bishop Karl Sigurbjörnsson met with Rev. Geir Waage of Reykholt yesterday to discuss his comments on the confidentiality of priests.
The bishop released a statement after the meeting saying that Waage will henceforth comply with the obligation to report on issues that infringe with the law.
Furthermore, the Church Council released a statement where Sigrún Pálína Ingvarsdóttir and Gudrún Ebba Ólafsdóttir, who accused former Bishop Skúlason of sexual harassment in 1996, are apologized to on behalf of the state church.
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