Sex offender priests banned from serving in churches are hiring themselves out to conduct funerals, a senior cleric has warned in the UK. "Any family engaging a celebrant through a funeral director should ensure they ask questions of the funeral director that the person is a member of a reputable and regulated association with proper insurance," he said. "We have some funeral directors [who], even though advised by the police of an individual with sexual offences against children, continue to use that person for funerals." Mr Spicksley said grieving families are increasingly turning to celebrants rather than local clergy, often because they are more readily available. He said: "One vicar often has six churches, if the funeral director calls the parish secretary sometimes it is three days before they ring you back to say we have got the Rev so-and-so."

Source: New Zealand Herald July 11, 2016 05:19 UTC