Sexual Abuse Survivor Hits Out At Church Of England

A Church sexual abuse survivor has criticised the Church of England after its apology over the Bishop George Bell abuse inquiry.

George Bell, the former Bishop of Chichester, was alleged to have abused a young girl in the 1950’s.

A report, published on Friday, said the Church’s handling of the case had been “deficient”.

Now, sexual abuse survivor Andy Morse, 56, has criticised the Church, he said: “The Church of England will continue to fail as long as its leadership prioritises the protection of the Church’s failing ‘brand’ over the needs of those it has let down.

“This is another example of the Church of England allowing years to pass and wronged people and their family members to die without seeing justice or even an acknowledgement of the Church’s failure.”

The allegations were first made by the accused in 1995 but were not investigated or referred to the police until 2013.

But, as reported by the BBC the Right Reverend Martin Warner said that the church inquiry paid “inadequate attention to the rights of those who are dead.”

The report into the handling of the case was critical of the Church’s actions.

Andy – who runs the Purple Protest group – alleged that he suffered sexual abuse at the hands of John Smyth from 1978-1982.