Vicar forced to quit because he kissed a 10 year old on the cheek
 

Vicar quits as school governor in kiss row

A vicar has stepped down as a school governor after kissing a 10-year-old girl on the cheek because she came up with the right answer during a maths lesson.

The Rev Alan Barrett, vicar of Tamworth, Staffordshire, kissed the girl in front of fellow pupils and a maths teacher as he presented her with a certificate. But the girl's mother claimed the kiss was an assault and complained after the incident in May. Mr Barrett was investigated by police, social workers and the diocese.

Staffordshire police took no action and the county council found there was no case to answer. And yesterday the archdeacon of Lichfield, the Ven Chris Liley, ruled that Mr Barrett would not be the subject of disciplinary proceedings. But he advised the vicar that the kiss had been "inappropriate".

"The conclusion that Mr Barrett had acted inappropriately is not a finding of guilt or negligence, but recognition that in today's climate, previously acceptable innocent behaviour is now subject to misunderstanding and suspicion," said David Drake, spokesman for the diocese.

Mr Barrett has resigned as a governor of the school on the advice of Mr Liley.

"I had visited the school to help some pupils with their work and, at the end of the lesson, congratulated one girl who had been struggling," he said yesterday. "I was stunned to hear that I'd become the subject of a police and social services investigation which examined my character, conduct and ministry."

He added: "I have discussed the issues with my archdeacon and agreed that one cannot be too careful. Giving a child a kiss of congratulations is inappropriate in this day and age. The archdeacon also observed the relationship between myself and the headteacher had been under severe strain for some time and this incident had not helped."

Mr Drake said: "The bishop of Lichfield has written to the mother of the girl setting out the steps the diocese has taken and the conclusion of the investigation. He has explained that if the mother still feels the conduct warrants a formal investigation she may lodge a formal complaint under the clergy discipline measure.

"The diocese of Lichfield treats the protection of children very seriously and has a laid-down child protection policy which all parishes are required to abide by."

Peter Stevens, a Staffordshire police spokesman, said: "Based on interviews, we felt no further police action should be taken. Mr Barrett was not cautioned."

A spokesman for Staffordshire county council said: "A child protection inquiry was initiated and subsequently concluded. It was found there was no case to answer."

But the girl's mother said she was not satisfied with the investigation or the findings and continued to allege that Mr Barrett's kiss was an assault. "I am so disappointed with the way it has been handled and I would like him to be removed from his position," she said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...820015,00.html

That mother should have been happy that somebody cared enough to encourage her child in school.

I'd be more afraid of anyone kissing my child when not in the presence of the entire class and the rest of the teachers.

Some people have too much time on their hands. She must be out of work and not making ends meat. I foretell a lawsuit coming for some compensation for future psychological problems.

Exactly..a peck on the cheek sounds like a very 'vicar' thing to do. Unless he pinned her down and forced it on her I don't see how it would be an assult.

Not all men are pedo's. I don't see anything wrong with it but ofcourse I can't look in the man's brain about what he was thinking.

i dont see anything wrong with that

Sometimes a kiss is just a kiss, jesus christ. Everybody is on a constant pedo alert now. I mean it pays to watch your kids, you wanna protect them and all that jazz, but this is kinda crazy.

Just depends on the culture, for me that wouldn't be cool.

What kind of culture is that?

while we are at it - lets put russian president in jail for lifting the shirt of a young boy and kissing his belly

while we are at it - lets put russian president in jail for lifting the shirt of a young boy and kissing his belly

for this much drama, he should of shown the class his peepee.

It's not like he tounged her.

thats gay

no kissing please

im reserving sick comments.

Come on!
This is insane! Kissing is something normal! And this crap lots of countries say about kissing, for me is just plain being cold!
In Brasil when we meet someone of the opossite sex, the normal thing to do is kiss the cheek of the person, does it mean I want to Bang her? No.

Kissing the cheek is a delicate gesture, like a hug it's cool, and everyone likes it. Those who think crap about that r just damn fools.:321GFY

Wow. What the hell is wrong with this world?

it's kinda wrong because all her classmates saw her and she may have felt uncomfortable .. but not like pedo-wrong..

that's fucked up

if this goes through then the Russian President needs to be impeached for lifting that boys shirt and kissing his stomach

Different culture treat things differently, for some the whole cheek kissing is a normal way of greeting, in asian cultures - its not.

Its only "normal" for someone depending on how they were raised, if you went to china or japan and you try to kiss the cheek of people you were greeting - it wouldn't be that "normal".

Now if you ask me, that is taking things over baord.

I love the asian culture, I really do. But those people are cold! Kissing someone and hugging and stuff like that is showing your apreciation and affection to that person. Asians, dont do it. I dont like that part of their culture.

Is that the reason you have tiny dicks? No affection, so blood never learned to flow to that area and make it grow? :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

i think its kinda weird. i wouldn't be too happy to hear that kids in my childs class were being rewarded with the right answers with kisses on the cheek. just seems odd.

This is the UK. It should not be thought as assault to kiss a child on the forehead or cheek in an innocent manner. God forbid he tried to hug her.

If it isn't 'pedo' wrong than what kind of uncomfortable would it make them feel?

Bullshit! Soon we'll be afraid to hug our own children.

HAHAHAHAHA, it makes sense...thats why Brasilian Dicks are large then, hahahaha.:pimp :1orglaugh

I don't like good looking woman kissing my kid, I don't know where their mouth has been. I wouldn't make a guy lose his job over a kiss on the cheek, but he would defintely be getting warned harshly.

Damn, that's cold!

For giving her a friendly kiss on the cheek for doing well in school? The world sucks if there aren't just allowed to be nice people in the world.

Yes, I am 99.99% sure it would be harmless, but I can be sure my child will never be that 0.01% where it isn't.

and telling her that friendly contact is wrong isn't harmful?

We speak as one.

I would like to have my child learn the differences in relationships. Do you kiss the grocery store cashier for bagging your food? No, that would not be appropriate, my child will get it's love from it's family and friend's, not strangers or teachers that have no barring on my child's future "friendly" interaction with other people. There are ways to be nice other than kissing. Maybe this is more common in other areas? I suppose people in parts of europe kiss on the cheek or other places for different reasons? I am just posting my opinion. I guess if we are getting in depth to this, my overall point is that my child will never be felt unappreciated or cold because there will be a family structure and backbone for encouragement.

Or maybe I was just an ugly child and no one kissed me. :(

:1orglaugh hahahaha, I vote for that!:winkwink: :thumbsup

I think someone should investigate the mother if she thinks it's so bad for a vicar to kiss a child on the cheek in front of a class. I think the mother has issues here that need addressing.

That sucks...

I had a conversation with a buddy on icq and I guess we concluded it has to be pretty much where you are from, I am from Canada as well and quoted BlackCrayon as well who is from Ottawa so maybe it has something to do with location. Dunno, don't care really anymore, too busy working :)