Church of England Ombudsman to Oversee Sexual Abuse Cases

By Harriet Sherwood
The Guardian
July 7, 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/07/church-england-ombudsman-oversee-sexual-abuse-cases-general-synod-backs-plan-independent-body

Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury: ‘We cannot say enough how sorry and how appalled we are.’ Photograph: Jack Taylor/Getty Images

The Church of England is to establish an independent ombudsman to deal with complaints over its handling of sexual abuse cases, and will seek other ways of strengthening independent scrutiny of its processes.

Survivors of sexual abuse within the church have repeatedly called for an independent body to oversee abuse cases following evidence of cover-ups and collusion by senior figures.

The C of E’s general synod, meeting in York, voted overwhelmingly to back priorities for action set out by the national safeguarding steering group (NSSG), which could include an independent body being given powers to intervene at national or diocese level.

The church will also review its internal clergy disciplinary processes and consider allowing complaints to be brought outside the normal 12-month cutoff period.

A two-hour debate on Saturday morning followed a fringe event on Friday evening at which survivors of sexual abuse in the church shared their stories with members of the synod and senior church leaders, including Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury.

One survivor, Jo Kind, addressed the synod at the start of Saturday’s debate, the first time the assembly has heard directly from a victim of sexual abuse. She called for a “radical reorientation” by the church to focus on “people broken by abuse” rather than reputational concerns. “Instead of walking away from victims, turn towards us,” she said to a standing ovation.

The synod backed a report from the NSSG, a body which includes seven bishops, setting out three priorities: support for and engagement with survivors, more robust processes for the selection and discipline of clergy and strengthening independent oversight and scrutiny.

Peter Hancock, bishop of Bath and Wells: ‘We failed to listen to those who came forward with powerful accounts.’ Photograph: Helen Williams/PA

Peter Hancock, the bishop of Bath and Wells and the lead bishop on safeguarding issues, told the synod: “Over the years, the church and its leaders have singularly failed to see what was before our eyes. We did not give safeguarding the prominence it deserved.

“We failed to put preventive measures in place. We failed to listen to those who came forward with powerful accounts. We failed to fund safeguarding sufficiently at national or diocesan level. We failed to put in place proper accountability for safeguarding at a senior level in the church.”

He added: “Real change requires a fundamental shift in attitude, behaviour and culture, especially where issues of deference or resistance to good safeguarding practice are identified.”

David Ison, dean of St Paul’s cathedral, said the church’s complaints process should be delegated to an independent body. “We are inevitably compromised on dealing with complaints,” he said.

But some expressed concern that independent oversight could allow the church to distance itself from responsibility for its actions.

Welby said: “I see the power of the argument [for independence] provided we always remain committed to our responsibility.”

The archbishop also spoke of the “sleepless nights and psychological pain” of survivors. “We cannot say enough how sorry and how appalled we are.”

Mark Chapman, who was abused by a C of E bishop 37 years ago and was sitting in the public gallery for Saturday’s debate, said he “welcomed and applauded” the priorities set out.

David Ison, dean of St Paul’s cathedral: ‘We are inevitably compromised on dealing with complaints.’ Photograph: REe/Shutterstock

“It’s so healing for me to know the organisation is trying to move forward. But this is not the end of it. Tomorrow we’ll be demanding more,” he said.

Chapman said he had met Welby and other bishops at Friday evening’s fringe event. “They all told me they are determined to make changes.” He said he wanted to work with the church to help it understand its mistakes of the past.

At the fringe meeting, Chapman spoke publicly for the first time about his alleged abuse by the former bishop of Chester, the late Victor Whitsey. “He destroyed me. He destroyed my innocence, he destroyed my self-respect, he destroyed my self-confidence, he destroyed my faith in humanity, he destroyed my faith in the Church of England and he destroyed my faith in Jesus Christ.

“His actions committed me to 37 years of despair, fear, anxiety and sadness. His actions caused me to have a nervous breakdown and to attempt suicide three times. His actions caused me employment problems, family problems and spiritual heartache beyond belief.

“Like so many others, I told no one. No one would have believed me. I struggled alone, week after week, month after month, trying to make sense of it all.”

Another survivor, Gilo, whose disclosures of abuse were ignored by senior figures in the C of E, told the fringe event that survivors were “routinely harmed and re-abused” by the church’s “rotten structures”.

The NSSG report follows three weeks of hearings at the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse earlier this year, which heard evidence of widespread abuse and cover-ups in the diocese of Chichester. Another week of hearings is scheduled for later this month, and an interim report is due to be published in the autumn.