§ Lord ROBERT CECILasked whether, in the event of any unbeneficed clergyman in Wales being guilty of an offence against any provision of the Ecclesiastical Law dealing with faith or morals, there will be any remedy against him under the provisions of the Established Church (Wales) Bill?
§ Mr. McKENNAI assume that by "unbeneficed clergyman" is meant a clergyman who holds no preferment, and, if so, the present Ecclesiastical Law will apply to him as a matter of contract.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman how the present law could be enforced as a matter of contract? What would be the procedure to enforce it?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn a Court of Law.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWould it be an action for damages, or what other action would lie?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere would not be an action for damages in the case of a breach for morals, but, as I understand, there would be no enforcement of the Ecclesiastical Law in England either.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry into that?
§ Mr. McKENNACertainly.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILOf some elementary barrister.
§ Mr. LEIF JONESMay I ask whether these particular clergymen would be subject to the same moral and legal restrictions as the rest of us?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, exactly the same. The Noble Lord is entirely in error in assuming that clergymen in this country can be proceeded against for damages for breach of morals.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILI never suggested it.
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, you did.