UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News
Re-hanging a portrait in a town hall of a bishop named as an alleged paedophile is “offensive”, say campaigners.
The painting of the late Right Reverend George Bell was removed when the Church of England settled a civil claim made by a woman who says she was abused by him in the 1940s and 50s.
But, Chichester Council said it had been replaced as there was reasonable doubt about the woman’s claims.
Campaigners condemned it as an “incredibly insensitive” move.
‘Thorough investigation’
Tony Dignum, leader of the council, said: “We haven’t seen sufficient evidence against Bishop Bell to justify removing his name entirely from our memory.
“I don’t doubt that she was abused but the question is: was it Bishop Bell?”
Peter Saunders, founder of the National Association of People Abused in Childhood, said the move was offensive to all “victims and survivors of childhood abuse”.
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