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George Carey resigns honorary Oxford post over Anglican sex abuse scandal

By Harriet Sherwood
Guardian
June 26, 2017

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/26/george-carey-resigns-honorary-oxford-bishop-anglican-sex-abuse-scandal

George Carey pictured in 2004. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian

George Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, has resigned as honorary assistant bishop in the diocese of Oxford following a damning independent report criticising the Church of England’s handling of a high-profile sex abuse case.

Carey, 81, quit after Justin Welby, the current archbishop of Canterbury, made the unprecedented decision to ask him to “carefully consider his position”. The report concluded the church had “colluded [with the abuser] rather than seeking to help those he had harmed”.

Steven Croft, the bishop of Oxford, met with Carey this week following Welby’s letter. In a statement, Croft said Carey had resigned in the light of the independent review. “Lord Carey has accepted the criticisms made of him … and has apologised to the victims of Peter Ball.”

Ball, the former bishop of Gloucester and Lewes, was jailed in October 2015 for the grooming, sexual exploitation and abuse of 18 vulnerable young men aged 17-25 who had sought spiritual guidance from him between 1977 and 1992. He was released from prison in February after serving 16 months.

Ball was first accused in 1992. A string of senior establishment figures – including Carey, cabinet ministers and a high court judge – came forward in his support, writing letters to the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

Ball was cautioned by police. He resigned his post as bishop but continued to officiate in public schools until 2007. A fresh investigation was opened in 2012, which led to his conviction.

One of Ball’s victims, Neil Todd – the first to come forward with allegations of abuse – attempted suicide three times before killing himself in 2012.

Welby ordered an independent review of the church’s handling of the case, chaired by Moira Gibb, a former chief executive of Camden council.

The report said Ball’s case was dealt with at the highest level of the church, which colluded with Ball. “The church appears to have been most interested in protecting itself,” Gibb’s report said.

Carey “set the tone for the church’s response to Ball’s crimes and gave the steer which allowed Ball’s assertions that he was innocent to gain credence”.

After Ball’s arrest in 1992, seven letters were sent to Carey raising concerns about Ball’s activities. Only one, which was the least damning, was passed to police. “The failure to pass six of the letters to police … must give rise to a perception of deliberate concealment,” the report said.

In 1993, Carey wrote to Ball’s identical twin brother, Bishop Michael Ball, saying: “I believe him to be basically innocent.”

In a statement responding to the report, Carey said it made “uncomfortable reading” and he accepted its criticisms of him. “I apologise to the victims of Peter Ball. I believed Peter Ball’s protestations and gave too little credence to the vulnerable young men and boys behind those allegations.”

Carey said he regretted not putting Ball’s name on the “Lambeth list” – names of people whose suitability for ministry was under question – after he was cautioned.




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