NSS: Church cannot escape blame for the failure to uncover truth about sex abuse

UNITED KINGDOM
National Secular Society

Posted: Thu, 29 Oct 2015

NSS: Church cannot escape blame for the failure to uncover truth about sex abuse

The National Secular Society has said that the Church of England cannot escape blame following the jailing of a retired Anglican priest for sexual offences committed against boys as young as 14.

Vickery House, from West Sussex, was jailed for six and half years at the Old Bailey today after being found guilty of five charges of indecent assault. House had denied eight counts of indecent assault against six males aged 14 to 34 dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.

The former Church of England priest was the “Right-hand man” of disgraced bishop Peter Ball who was jailed earlier this month for a string of offences against teenagers and young men.
Three of House’s victims were also abused by Ball around the time they took part in a Church of England scheme called Give A Year For Christ which was run by the clergymen.

Speaking after the sentencing, National Secular Society executive director, Keith Porteous Wood, said:

“House and Bishop Ball misused their Anglican religious order to attract and systematically abuse young men. Instead of exercising their duty of care, they ruthlessly exploited their religious and institutional power over the victims.

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