Archbishop of Westminster appointed Apostolic Administrator of Northampton

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop of Westminster Richard Moth as Apostolic Administrator of Northampton diocese after the Bishop of Northampton David Oakley was charged with two counts of rape of a female aged under 16.

Bishop Oakley remains the Bishop of Northampton, although he has been removed from the diocesan website which now lists Archbishop Moth as Administrator under the“bishop” menu heading.

Bishop Oakley withdrew from public ministry after he was arrested last September and at that time, the Vicar General took responsibility for governance of the diocese. Bishop Oakley was charged with rape last week. He has neither resigned nor been suspended.

In a statement, the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Richard Moth as Apostolic Administrator sede plena et ad nutum Sanctæ Sedis of the Diocese of Northampton.

“This is a temporary role, by which the Holy See ensures that the pastoral governance of a diocese will continue, when it is not possible for a diocesan bishop to exercise his office. Therefore, the governance of the Diocese of Northampton is now canonically entrusted to Archbishop Moth.”

Archbishop Moth said, “I am humbled by the trust which His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has placed in me by assigning me this mission as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Northampton, in addition to my ministry as the Archbishop of Westminster. I ask those whom I am called to serve to pray for me, that the Lord will continue to give me His spiritual guidance and wisdom needed to fulfil these duties.”

Although he will remain resident in Westminster, his role will involve providing support to the people and clergy of Northampton.

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