This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5dyyq6v86o

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Ex-archbishop George Carey among clergy facing possible disciplinary action Ten Church of England clergy facing disciplinary action over abuse report
(about 4 hours later)
Lord Carey resigned as a Church of England priest in December John Smyth QC is believed to be the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England
Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey is among a number of clergy facing disciplinary action over safeguarding failures after a report into prolific abuser John Smyth, the Church of England has announced. The Church of England says it is initiating disciplinary proceedings against 10 members of clergy following a review of evidence in the report into the prolific abuser, John Smyth.
The list also includes the former Bishop of Durham Paul Butler and Rev Andrew Cornes - who was due to be on the selection panel to pick the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Among those facing action are former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey and Rev Andrew Cornes - who was due to be on the committee picking the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
Smyth, who died in 2018, used horrific violence to attack boys at his Winchester home in the 1970s and 1980s, a report into his abuse found. Smyth, who died in 2018, used horrific violence to attack boys at his Winchester home in the 1970s and 1980s, the Makin Review into his abuse found.
The report led to the eventual resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury in November after it found he should have reported Smyth's abuse to police in 2013. Justin Welby, who stepped down as Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year because of the scandal, is among several senior figures not facing action because of "insufficient evidence" for disciplinary proceedings.
Church covered up 'abhorrent' abuse, report findsChurch covered up 'abhorrent' abuse, report finds
The Church's National Safeguarding Team (NST) said two other members of clergy have not yet had their actions reviewed because of "ongoing processes". Also not facing action but coming under criticism in the Makin Review are four serving bishops - the current Bishop of Lincoln Stephen Conway, Bishop of Episcopal Ministry in the Anglican Communion Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Martin Seeley and the Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba.
Almost 30 other clergy criticised in the report will not face disciplinary action because there was "insufficient evidence to meet the threshold for disciplinary proceedings", it added. A survivor of Smyth's abuse told the BBC he was relieved that some were "at long last" being held to account for their failings but said he was surprised others had not been named.
A long-awaited report into Smyth's abuse, the Makin review, was released last year and concluded he was thought to be the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England. The long-awaited report was released in November and detailed "the prolific, brutal and horrific" abuse perpetrated against more than 120 boys and young men by Smyth at Christian camps from the late 1970s in England until his death in South Africa in 2018.
Smyth was accused of attacking dozens of boys, including those he met at Christian camps, in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. That review led to the resignation of Justin Welby for what he acknowledged was his "personal and institutional responsibility".
The barrister and senior member of a Christian charity then moved to Zimbabwe and later South Africa, where he abused up to 100 boys aged 13 to 17, the Makin review added. The Church's National Safeguarding Team has since reviewed the evidence against nearly 40 other active clergy criticised in the report, deciding that some of it meets the threshold for further action.
On publication of the findings, the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time, Mr Welby, apologised to victims and said Smyth's abuse had "manipulated Christian truth to justify his evil acts". Those who are facing disciplinary proceedings by the Church of England are accused in the report of various degrees of failing to act during the timeline of Smyth's abuse.
However, the review concluded that Smyth might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported allegations to police in 2013. The report said former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey had been informed of the abuse in an outline of a report in 1983 which "contained enough information about abuses to signal a need for action regarding John Smyth".
Mr Welby had resisted calls to step aside over his response to the case since 2013. But amid mounting pressure once the report was published, he eventually said must take "personal and institutional responsibility" and resigned last year. Lord Carey denied seeing it and told the review he did not know Smyth when he studied at Trinity Theological College when Lord Carey was principal. Makin said that "seems highly unlikely" given Smyth's public prominence at the time.
Lord Carey was also named in the Makin review, which concluded abuse carried out for decades by Smyth was known about and not acted upon by various people within the Church. He gave up his "permission to officiate" in December following a BBC investigation into the Church of England's handling of a separate sexual abuse case.
He resigned as a priest in December following an investigation into the Church of England's handling of a separate sexual abuse case. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002. Another priest that now faces disciplinary action is Canon Andrew Cornes, a retired clergyman from the Chichester diocese who was due to be a member of the Crown Nominations Commission that will appoint the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
Others named include Rev Sue Colman, who is the wife of the Colman's mustard heir Sir Jamie Colman. The Makin review said Rev Cornes was told in 1982 by a victim of Smyth about abuse he suffered. It said there was "no evidence to suggest that Andrew Cornes took action to respond to this, he suggests that he thought that the matter was being dealt with".
The Makin report concluded Mrs Colman, associate minister at St Leonard's Church in Oakley, near Basingstoke in Hampshire, was aware of Smyth's abuse before being ordained and noted that she and her husband visited Smyth in Africa in the 1990s and funded the Smyths through a personal trust. The Church of England has clarified that Rev Cornes has "voluntary stepped back from ministry pending the outcome of this process and will not be participating in the Crown Nominations Commission".
The full list of clergy to face disciplinary action includes:The full list of clergy to face disciplinary action includes:
Bishop Paul ButlerBishop Paul Butler
Bishop George CareyBishop George Carey
Rev Roger CombesRev Roger Combes
Rev Sue ColmanRev Sue Colman
Rev Andrew CornesRev Andrew Cornes
Rev Tim Hastie-SmithRev Tim Hastie-Smith
Rev Hugh PalmerRev Hugh Palmer
Rev Paul PerkinRev Paul Perkin
Rev Nick StottRev Nick Stott
Rev John WoolmerRev John Woolmer
Disciplinary proceedings are being pursued "out of time" as the allegations occurred more than 12 months ago - the current limit on cases being brought. Because of the length of time after their alleged failures to act took place, the initiation of the disciplinary process for each needs to be approved by the Church's President of Tribunals.
Results of a clergy disciplinary measure can range from a conditional discharge, where no penalty is imposed, to removal from office, resignation by consent and a lifetime ban from ministry. Given the vulnerability of the victims involved, it is understood they are likely to proceed.
The so-called clergy disciplinary measure process could lead to anyone found guilty being prohibited from exercising church ministry for life.
Mark Stibbe was groomed and brutally beaten by Smyth after joining his school's Christian Forum in 1977 and has waited decades for justice.
Mr Stibbe said he was "relieved" those identified in the review would be "held to account for their failings".
"I, along with my fellow Smyth survivors, wait with keen interest to see whether any disciplinary measures are enforced," he said.
"I am surprised that those senior clergy who in 2013 knew the full extent of Smyth's abuses, and who did not properly ensure that Smyth was brought to justice, are not named in the list released today," he added.
"Nevertheless, it's good to know that after all these years not only the truth is being discovered but that justice is being done".
Alexander Kubeyinje, the Church of England's national director of safeguarding, said survivors and victims had endured lifelong effects from Smyth's "appalling abuse".Alexander Kubeyinje, the Church of England's national director of safeguarding, said survivors and victims had endured lifelong effects from Smyth's "appalling abuse".
"We have announced next steps in the process looking at both risk and disciplinary processes," he added."We have announced next steps in the process looking at both risk and disciplinary processes," he added.
Smyth had also worked as a barrister representing morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse whilst he ran the camps for young evangelical Christians.Smyth had also worked as a barrister representing morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse whilst he ran the camps for young evangelical Christians.
Reports of his physical abuse of boys were first revealed in an investigation by Channel 4 News, in February 2017.Reports of his physical abuse of boys were first revealed in an investigation by Channel 4 News, in February 2017.
Smyth and his wife Anne were excommunicated by his local church in Cape Town, South Africa, the year before he died.Smyth and his wife Anne were excommunicated by his local church in Cape Town, South Africa, the year before he died.
Additional reporting by Tom McArthur
BBC Action Line: If you have been affected by issues in this story, find out what support is available here.BBC Action Line: If you have been affected by issues in this story, find out what support is available here.