BishopAccountability.org
 
 

Archbishop of York: Parishes Are "Enabling Abuse" by Refusing to Punish Paedophiles Whom They Deem "Lovely People"

By Gabriella Swerling
The Telegraph
July 11, 2019

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/11/archbishop-blames-parishes-enabling-abuse-refuse-punish-paedophiles/

The Archbishop of York has blamed parishes for enabling child sexual abuse as they refuse to punish paedophiles whom they deem to be "lovely people" and "fantastic priests". CREDIT: CHARLOTTE GRAHAM - GUZELIAN /CHARLOTTE GRAHAM - GUZELIAN

The Archbishop of York has blamed parishes for enabling child sexual abuse as they refuse to punish paedophiles whom they deem to be "lovely people" and "fantastic priests".

Dr John Sentamu told a government inquiry yesterday that among some dioceses there was the misconception that safeguarding was merely an "optional extra".

The Archbishop, who is due to retire next year, was responding to allegations that there were attitudes still prevalent within the Church of England that there could be no sex offending without corroborative evidence. He was also questioned about allegations from a surviving victim, the Rev Matthew Ineson.

Giving evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) for the first time, Dr Sentamu said: "I have come across [examples] in my diocese where three clergy persons were convicted and the parishes where they had served, they all tell you it couldn't be true, in spite of the fact that people have been convicted."

Dr Sentamu, 70, denied that such attitudes regarding reporting abuse were inextricably linked to the Church.

Prior to the Archbishop giving evidence, the IICSA panel heard from Mr Ineson, who said that his disclosures about being sexually abused as a teenager were ignored by senior clerics. Mr Ineson, who has waived his right to anonymity, called for changes to the way the Church investigates safeguarding issues and complaints about clerics.

Mr Ineson told the inquiry how he suffered abuse at the hands of priest Trevor Devamanikkam, who took his own life in 2017 on the day he was due to appear in court accused of sexual offences against him.

He said he later made disclosures to a number of bishops and archbishops but they were ignored and no further action was taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Mr Ineson, who was ordained in 2000 and practised in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said he made his first disclosures between 2012 and 2013 and sent copies to the Bishop of Beverley and Dr Sentamu.

Mr Ineson told the inquiry that the only person to reply was Dr Sentamu, who wrote: "Please be assured of my prayers and best wishes at this difficult time." When asked about the case of Mr Ineson, Dr Sentamu said he received a copy of his letter but assumed the Bishop of Sheffield would deal with it because it was his responsibility.

 

 

 

 

 




.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.