British Church Safety Group Advices Vicars To Remove Dog Collars Off-duty

London, England (AHN) - Members of the clergy are being advised to remove their dog collar when off-duty to reduce the risk of being attacked, a British church safety group, National Churchwatch, said Sunday.

According to BBC News, the organization is urging all clergy members to follow this advice, including the Archbishop of Canterbury.

National Churchwatch says that the police do not regularly monitor crime against clergy. But a study found that between 1997 and 1999, seven out of 10 clergies faced some form of violence and more than 10 percent reported being assaulted. In the past decade, five clergy members in England have been murdered.

The group's report says that the clergy are an easy target since they are thought to have money. They are also likely to be targeted by someone with a grievance against God. According to a report by Associated Press (AP), the group's head Nick Tolson "blamed dwindling church attendance for diluting the respect traditionally accorded to clergy."

The advice has resulted in a mixed reaction from various Christian groups in England. The Church of England's response was muted; although it welcomed the advice, it believes that a clergy would be torn between maintaining his identity and personal safety. A member of the clergy at St. Paul's Cathedral was more critical, calling it "silly, fashionable idea," AP reports.