The life of a faith worker can be a lonely one.
They often live and work alone, work long hours and provide grief counselling and support for others.
But rarely do they have similar confidants of their own.
Add to this the hierarchical structure of many church organisations and an ambiguous employment status, and many faith workers are left feeling isolated and unaware of their rights should trouble arise. And it often does.
Take Father Chris Bedding, for example, the former rector of an Anglican Church in Perth. He has a penchant for clashing with church leaders.
Not only does he speak publicly on issues like LGBTQI+ rights and the plight of refugees, but he once performed a popular comedy show called "Pirate Church", which led to him being suspended for blasphemy.
An independent and confidential process via the diocese's professional standards board eventually reinstated Fr Bedding on condition he apologise to church officials and attend a personal retreat under the supervision of a bishop.
"My own diocese didn't even try to abide by its own procedures," he says today.
"Even in the face of very real threats of legal action they would not budge and that reflects a culture where faith organisations have been a law unto themselves.
Fr Bedding is somewhat lucky. Because of his community work, he'd already...
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