Child abuse victim to Butler-Sloss: ‘I did not change my story’

UNITED KINGDOM
Christian Today

Sarah Lothian 08 January 2015

A man who was systematically abused by two Anglican priests has told Christian Today why he released a recording of a conversation with Baroness Butler-Sloss at the Chichester Abuse Inquiry.

Phil Johnson says he was forced to defend himself after being accused of ‘changing his story’ by Butler-Sloss when she guest-edited Radio Four’s Today programme at the end of December.

She resigned as chairwoman of the Westminster inquiry into establishment child abuse last summer after claims she was not impartial.

At the time Johnson was among the voices calling for her to stand down. He said that during the Diocese of Chichester Inquiry she told him she wanted to exclude his allegations of abuse by a bishop because she ‘cared about the church’ and ‘did not want to give the press a bishop’.

But on Radio Four Butler-Sloss said Johnson had given an inaccurate account. He had agreed with her not to include the reference to the bishop and agreed it was in his best interests, she claimed.

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