The June 22 vote by the synod’s 600 delegates was unanimous. Archbishop Phillip Aspinall said the diocesan board will now be “able to proceed straight away to make a determination rather than having to retry the whole matter. "It is a big improvement because it doesn't require victims to have to go through a quite long and arduous church process as well as what they have had to go through in the court,” he said.

The Diocese of Sydney welcomed the Brisbane synod's adoption of a simpler process of dealing with priests convicted of child abuse. "We must do everything possible to make sure the church of Jesus Christ is the safest place for the most vulnerable members of our community," says Bishop Rob Forsyth, diocesan spokesman and bishop of South Sydney.

The new rule does not affect the case of the Rev Robert Sharwood, a priest jailed for child abuse, however. Recently released from prison, the diocese has begun proceedings to defrock Mr Sharwood.

In other business the synod adopted legislation permitting women to serve as bishops in the diocese.