Church of England press release
The National Safeguarding Team has today announced the conclusion of the work to review all clergy under the authority or oversight of the Church of England who are criticised in the Makin review, published in November. The review was commissioned to look at the Church’s handling of the allegations of the horrendous abuse by the late John Smyth.
This has been a rigorous and independent process to look at whether those named present any immediate risk and consider whether there is a case for disciplinary proceedings for clergy, under the Clergy Discipline Measure. This has been undertaken in line with the process announced in December with recommendations of an independent panel and reviewed by an independent barrister.
Following this the National Safeguarding Team will now seek to bring disciplinary proceedings under the Clergy Discipline Measure against the following:
In all cases the CDM will be ‘out of time’ and so the permission of the President of the Tribunals will need to be sought to bring such cases. This will be done by the National Director of Safeguarding, Alexander Kubeyinje.
In reaching its conclusions the Stage 3 panel has considered the safeguarding policies and guidance which were in force at the relevant time, the facts of the particular case, the relevant legal considerations and whether there is sufficient evidence to justify proceedings.
The conclusions at Stage 3 were validated by the independent barrister at Stage 4 in the external scrutiny process,
In respect of all those under the authority or oversight of the Church of England not listed here but criticised in the Makin Review, the process has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to meet the threshold for instituting disciplinary proceedings at this time. There are two priests criticised in the report whose actions have not yet been reviewed as they are subject to other live, ongoing, processes. Once these have concluded they will be reviewed following the 4-stage process.
Victims and survivors and all those criticised in the Makin review have been informed and support offered.
Alexander Kubeyinje, the Church of England’s National Director of Safeguarding, said: “We must not forget that at heart of this case are the survivors and victims who have endured the lifelong effects of the appalling abuse by John Smyth, we are truly sorry. Today we have announced next steps in the process looking at both risk and disciplinary processes. We know this will never undo the harm caused but the Church is committed to taking very seriously its response to the findings of the review as well as responding to its recommendations.”
The National Safeguarding Team can make no further comment on these cases whilst the CDM proceedings are under way.
Finding support
(Media are requested to include these details in any coverage.)
If you or anyone you are in contact with are affected by the publication of this report and want to talk to someone independently, please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.
Alternatively, you may wish to contact the diocesan safeguarding team in your area or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.
There are also other support services available.
ENDS
Notes for editors
Dioceses in which those listed currently minister:
Let’s assume that the CofE does not have a deathwish, and does not block these cases on the grounds of being out of time. It could happen, but the consequences would be catastrophic. That said, it’s unclear quite what this process will achieve. Most of the major players at the time the abuse that took place in the UK was perpetrated are dead, long-since retired or were not ordained and therefore were never within the remit of the CDM. What’s left is whether or not action could have been taken which would have brought Smyth to justice in the UK… Read more »