Bishop "Shocked" by Ball Abuse Report

By Mark Elson
Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Review
June 22, 2017

http://www.theforestreview.co.uk/article.cfm?id=107056&headline=Bishop%20%27shocked%27%20by%20Ball%20abuse%20report§ionIs=news&searchyear=2017

The Bishop of Gloucester says she is "greatly shocked and distressed" by the findings of a report in Peter Ball's abuse.

THE Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Rev Rachel Treweek, says she is "greatly shocked and distressed" by the findings of an independent report into disgraced church leader Peter Ball.

‘An Abuse of Faith’, produced by Dame Moira Gibb, claims that senior figures in the Church of England "colluded" to cover up evidence of former Gloucester bishop Ball’s abuse of boys as young as 12.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey is among those criticised in the report, which was commissioned by the church after Ball was jailed for 32 months in October 2015 for misconduct in public office and indecent assault. Ball was freed last February having served 16 months.

He was first reported to Gloucester Police by novice monk Neil Todd and others in 1992, but no charges were brought against him after police reportedly received supportive phone calls from MPs, former public school headmasters, magistrates and even a Lord Chief Justice.

Neil Todd later took his own life, while Ball resigned as bishop in 1993 after accepting a police caution for indecency.

Right Revd Treweek said: “I have read Dame Moira’s report and am greatly shocked and distressed by its content.

"The report presents a devastating account of Peter Ball’s abuse and it is a matter of deep shame and regret that a bishop in the Church of England committed such horrendous crimes and that as a church we repeatedly failed to act and protect those who came forward for help.

“I feel immensely sad that Neil Todd took his own life and is not with us today - I wish to commend his tenacity and courage and that of other victims and survivors.

“There are no excuses for what took place. The Church commissioned this review so we could learn from our failings.

"I, alongside my staff team, remain committed to striving for the highest level of safeguarding in the Diocese of Gloucester and making our churches the safest places they can possibly be. We will continue to work with the National Safeguarding Team and act upon the recommendations made in the report.

“Any survivors or those with information about church-related abuse must know that they will be listened to in confidence, with genuine openness and empathy.”