The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has resigned this morning (26 June) from his last remaining formal role in the church after a review into child abuse.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, wrote to his predecessor last week asking him to consider his position as honorary assistant bishop in Oxford after an independent report found senior figures in the Church of England “colluded” for a period of 20 years with former bishop, Peter Ball, who sexually abused boys and men.
Lord Carey said that the independent report, published on 21 June, "makes deeply uncomfortable reading".
He continued: "I accept the criticisms of me. I apologise to the victims of Peter Ball. I believed Peter Ball's protestations and gave too little credence to the vulnerable young men and boys behind those allegations."
Welby described the report, chaired by Dame Moira Gibb as “harrowing."
In a statement, the Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, confirmed that Lord Carey has resigned from his role "in light of Dame Moira Gibb’s review into the Peter Ball case."
"Lord Carey has accepted the criticisms made of him in the Gibb review and has apologised to the victims of Peter Ball,"continues Croft's statement, released this afternoon (26 June).
The Bishop of Oxford said that he had been "deeply distressed" by the report's findings, adding that he hoped that "the focus of attention will continue to be on the survivors of abuse and offering to them the care and support they need."
"As the Diocese of Oxford we are committed to improving continually the quality of safeguarding and care and will seek to learn the lessons of Dame Moira Gibb’s review and put its recommendations into practice”, concluded the statement.
Loading ...
