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Bishop Peter Hancock Statement at Peter Ball Review Press Conference

Church of England
June 22, 2017

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3999895/bishop-peter-hancock-statement-at-peter-ball-review-press-conference.pdf

[full text]

The first thing I want to say at the start of this Press Conference is that I am truly sorry that as a Church we failed the survivors of the abuse perpetrated by Bishop Peter Ball. Having read the report I am appalled and deeply disturbed by its contents. As Dame Moira says in her foreword, Peter Ball abused boys and men over a 20 year period and as a Church we colluded, we failed to act and protect those who came forward for help. There are no excuses.

The Church of England commissioned this review so we could learn from it and this detailed account of what went on provides a clear picture both of Peter Ball's abusive actions and our woeful response.

Whilst this is about moving forward - making the Church a safer place for all in 2017 and beyond - nevertheless we have taken very seriously the comments and criticisms in the report of some senior church figures and where appropriate have taken further action. Relating to this it was very disappointing to hear about a leak of a private letter this morning from the Archbishop to Lord Carey, when the focus should be on the survivors.

As the Lead Bishop for Safeguarding I am hugely conscious of the importance of the first recommendation that our bishops must take steps to demonstrate our individual and collective accountability for the safety and protection of all within the church.

In his statement the Archbishop of Canterbury makes it very clear that he is taking a lead on this, as Dame Moira recommends, working with me and the National Safeguarding Team. Every bishop has therefore been sent the report this morning and it is now online for everyone to read.

 

 

 

 

 




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