BBC and Archbishop of Canterbury Should Stop Pointing the Finger at One Another over Child Abuse, Victims" Lawyer Says

By Sarah Knapton
The Telegraph
October 2, 2017

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/02/bbc-archbishop-canterbury-should-stop-pointing-finger-one-another/

Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury CREDIT: VICTORIA JONES PA

The BBC and the Archbishop of Canterbury should both stop pointing the finger at one another over child abuse, a representative of victims has said after a row over how the corporation and the Church of England handled complaints.

The Most Rev Justin Welby had claimed the church handled sex scandals with more integrity than the broadcaster.

Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, who has represented victims of Savile and former Bishop Peter Ball said the BBC and the Church of England should both be "looking very hard at themselves and be focused entirely on how they can both look to improve safeguarding in the future."

"Both organisations have been guilty of appalling failings in terms of safeguarding children and neither should be pointing the finger at the other," he added.

The Archbishop had told Radio 4 Today’s programme that the corporation had not dealt with complaints as well as the Catholic and Anglican churches.

The BBC’s religious affairs correspondent, Martin Bashir, responded saying Rev Welby’s comments reminded him of the gospel of St John which states: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

A Lambeth Palace spokeswoman said that since the Archbishop's appointment, safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults had been made the ‘highest priority’ and there were now ‘robust’ policies, independent audits and dedicated training.

She added: "The archbishop believes this level of rigorous response and self-examination needs to extend to all institutions, including the BBC."

The Churches Child Protection Advisory Services, Justin Humphreys, warned against comparing the conduct of the church to other institutions when they should be looking closer to home.

The Archbishop said he hoped he would not have to conduct The Queen's funeral CREDIT: GARETH FULLER

"I think we run the risk of being accused of pointing the finger whilst we're not looking at our own backyard,” said Mr Humphreys.

"However, I think it is reasonably well known that there are parallels that can be drawn between both the church, the BBC and other institutions that have been looked at for the same reasons as they have.

"And while today's BBC is a different place, we set out very clear actions to ensure the highest possible standards of child safeguarding.”

A group of six victims of abuse in the Church of England also said they did not recognise the archbishop's description of 'integrity' from their own 'bitter experience'.

In a statement released to media outlets, they said: “The Church of England needs to confront its own darkness in relation to abuse before confronting the darkness of others."

It is traditional for the Archbishop of Canterbury to officiate at the funerals of members of The Royal Family CREDIT: DANNY LAWSON PA

The Archbishop also told GQ magazine that he hoped that someone else will officiate at the Queen’s funeral because the event will be so ‘enormous.’

He said the service would be 'the most extraordinary historic moment', yet added that ‘God willing’ he would not have to take part.

In an interview with Alastair Campbell for GQ magazine, the Archbishop was asked if he loses sleep thinking he might have to preside over the proceedings.

"I don't lose sleep and I do hope I don't have to do that," he said. Asked if he thinks about the 'enormity' of it, he replied: "Yes, I do. It's enormous whoever does it - God willing someone else - because it is an enormous public event. But as a parish priest, at every funeral you think about the enormity of it."

He added: "I don't want to get into details because it is not something I want to talk about, but the Queen is the most extraordinary person, one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, in every possible way.

"When it happens it will be the most extraordinary historic moment."

It is traditional for The Archbishop of Canterbury to officiate at the funerals of members of the Royal Family, which usually take place at Westminster Abbey. Unless a new archbishop is in place before the death of the Queen, he is almost certain to take the service.

He has been in the position for four years, and both his predecessors Rowan Williams and Lord Carey resigned after 11 years.

During the wide-ranging interview, which is published in the November issue of the magazine on sale on Thursday, the Archbishop was also asked if gay sex is sinful.

The Archbishop added: "I don't do blanket condemnation and I haven't got a good answer to the question.

"I'll be really honest about that. I know I haven't got a good answer to the question.

"Inherently, within myself, the things that seem to me to be absolutely central are around faithfulness, stability of relationships and loving relationships."