UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News
The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted he is powerless to stop an ex-vicar jailed for child sex offences from using the title “the reverend”.
Guy Bennett, who was a vicar in Oxted, Surrey, was sentenced in 1999 for indecently assaulting three girls.
Bennett was photographed in 2008 wearing a clerical collar.
Writing to another of Bennett’s alleged victims, Justin Welby said Bennett had been disqualified from holding any office in the Church.
Lucy Duckworth, who made a complaint of sexual abuse against Bennett to Surrey Police in 2008, had written to the archbishop about Bennett.
The former vicar, who retired when under suspension pending the outcome of his trial, denies assaulting Ms Duckworth or referring to himself as “the reverend”.
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