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Senior Church of England Figures "Colluded" with Bishop Convicted of Abusing Young Men to Conceal His Crimes

By Helen William
Mirror
June 22, 2017

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/senior-church-england-figures-colluded-10667811

Former Bishop of Lewes Peter Ball (Photo: PA)

Senior Church of England figures helped to hide the long-term sexual abuse of young men by one its bishops instead of helping victims, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

The Most Rev Justin Welby's statement came as the Church published Abuse Of Faith, an independent review of how it handled the case of Peter Ball, the former Bishop of Lewes who was jailed for 32 months at the Old Bailey in 2015.

He pleaded guilty to a string of historical offences, including two counts of indecent assault.

The review, chaired by Dame Moira Gibb, found that "Ball's conduct has caused serious and enduring damage to the lives of many men".

Peter Ball and Prince Charles in 1992 (Photo: SWNS.com)

Peter Ball at the Old Bailey (Photo: PA)

It stated: "Peter Ball betrayed his Church and abused individual followers of that Church.

"The Church at its most senior levels and over many years supported him unwisely and displayed little care for his victims.

"Much of what we have described took place in different times and should be viewed from that perspective.

"But such perverse and sustained abuse by a senior figure in the Church and the Church's failure to safeguard so many boys and young men still casts a long shadow."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has condemned the collusion (Photo: PA)

Ball admitted sexually abusing 18 young men decades after his victims first complained (Photo: SWNS +44 (0)1179066550)

During his time as bishop, Ball hand-picked 18 vulnerable victims to commit acts of "debasement" in the name of religion, such as praying naked at the altar and encouraging them to submit to beatings, his trial heard.

The Archbishop described the report as "harrowing reading", adding: "The Church colluded and concealed rather than seeking to help those who were brave enough to come forward.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has condemned the collusion (Photo: PA)

"This is inexcusable and shocking behaviour and, although Dame Moira notes that most of the events took place many years ago, and does not think that the Church now would conduct itself in the ways described, we can never be complacent; we must learn lessons."

He restated his "unreserved apology" to the victims who had been brave enough to come forward, adding: "There are no excuses whatsoever for what took place and the systematic abuse of trust perpetrated by Peter Ball over the decades."

 

 

 

 

 




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