UNITED KINGDOM
Telegraph
By John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor
16 Oct 2014
The Roman Catholic Church has ordered a secret inquiry into whether the former Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, who resigned over an adulterous affair, took advantage of “vulnerable” women.
An independent investigator has been called in to examine whether the allegations against Bishop Kieran Conry, the Church’s former head of outreach, have “safeguarding” implications.
It is understood the inquiry will take between three and six months but even the name of the investigator is to be kept secret.
Although the Bishop, who is current undergoing a period of “prayer and reflection”, will be allowed to see the findings, the report itself will also never be published.
And anyone wishing to raise fresh concerns about the bishop must log a complaint with the Church first before it can be passed on.
The Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith, has been appointed by Pope Francis as apostolic administrator to oversee the running of the diocese following Bishop Conry’s resignation last month.
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