Survivors of Abuse in C of E to Protest at Bishop of Oxford's Inauguration

By Harriet Sherwood
The Guardian
September 30, 2016

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/30/survivors-abuse-church-of-england-protest-bishop-of-oxford-inauguration

Michael and Joe will hand out leaflets at Steven Croft’s consecration accusing church of failing to act on their claims

Christ Church cathedral in Oxford, where the bishop’s formal enthronement will take place. Photograph: Alamy

Two high-profile survivors of sexual abuse in the Church of England are to mount a protest during the enthronement of the bishop of Oxford in response to what they claim is the church’s failure to act on their disclosures.

Michael (not his real name), an ordained C of E priest, made a formal complaint of misconduct earlier this year against Steven Croft, the new bishop, claiming that he failed to properly respond to accusations of rapes allegedly committed by a serving priest in 1984.

Similar complaints of misconduct were lodged against John Sentamu, the archbishop of York, and three other serving bishops.

The C of E has rejected the complaints because they were made after a one-year time limit set by the church.

Michael claims that he told Croft – then bishop of Sheffield – about the alleged rapes in December 2012 and again in February 2013. Croft failed to act on the disclosures, Michael says.

Croft, a member of the House of Lords, became bishop of Oxford in July. His formal enthronement takes place at Christ Church cathedral, Oxford, on Friday.

In a statement, Croft said: “Child sexual abuse and exploitation are serious crimes and I recognise the profound and long-lasting impact such abuse has on survivors.

“It is, of course, vital that Michael receives the right pastoral care and support in respect of the alleged abuse in his teenage years. I accept that Michael does not feel he received the appropriate support and action in 2013. I regret this and I am committed to exploring what happened further with Michael and with the national safeguarding team.”

Michael will be supported in his protest by Joe (not his real name), who was allegedly abused by a senior C of E figure in the 1970s. Following an apology from the church and payment of compensation to Joe last October, the C of E ordered an independent review of its handling of the case.

The resulting highly critical report highlighted a “deeply disturbing” failure of those in senior positions to record or take action on the survivor’s disclosures over a period of almost four decades.

Another three bishops and a clergyman later appointed as a bishop were among those to whom Joe disclosed the abuse, according to documentation seen by the Guardian.

The two survivors have said they will mount a peaceful protest outside Croft’s consecration, and do not intend to disrupt the cathedral service. It will be the first time the pair have met.

Michael told the Guardian: “This is a clear case of the church hierarchy closing ranks. There needs to be more transparency, openness and integrity displayed by bishops and archbishops.

“We are talking about the rape and sexual assault of children, youngsters and the vulnerable by clergy … What could be worse?”

Joe said: “Both of us have faced very similar issues in our cases – denial and amnesia, and a deferential and obstructing culture that protects bishops from facing difficult questions.

“The bishops think it’s OK to carry on business as usual without properly facing these major questions. We are both making a stand to say clearly that this consecration is ill-judged and wrongly timed. The bishop should be dealing with the issues first.”

The survivors will hand leaflets to hundreds of guests claiming that, in Michael’s case, the named bishops are “hiding behind” the one-year rule of limitation.

The leaflet says: “Not one of them has provided a substantive defence of their actions. The Church of England is doing everything it can to protect them. Why?”

Martyn Percy, the dean of Christ Church cathedral, where Croft is being enthroned, said: “We fully recognise the importance of listening to survivors of sexual abuse. We are in close conversation with those who are planning to protest at the cathedral, and will continue to engage with seriousness, empathy and compassion.”