Latest news with #Welby
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Seven Church of England priests face disciplinary process over abuse scandal
By Muvija M LONDON (Reuters) -Seven Church of England priests, including a former senior bishop, will face disciplinary proceedings over safeguarding failures in the first such move since Archbishop Justin Welby was forced to stand down last year over a child abuse scandal. Former Archbishop George Carey, who was in February named in a list of 10 historic cases that would be considered by an independent judicial process, would not face any further action, the Church also said in an update published on Thursday. The Church of England - central to 85 million Anglicans worldwide - has been in crisis over safeguarding the vulnerable since a November report said ex-leader Welby had taken insufficient action to stop a prolific abuser. In February it identified 10 cases that should be independently re-examined because they had happened too long ago to be considered by the Church's usual processes. Former Bishop of Durham Paul Butler - who held one of the most senior bishoprics in the Church from 2014 to 2024 - is among those facing disciplinary proceedings. That process could result in penalties such as a permanent ban from ministry. Butler was responsible for safeguarding oversight in 16,000 Anglican churches in the country from 2010-2016. The proceedings against him and others form the next stage of the Church's efforts to restore trust following November's review. Welby, who stepped down within a month of the review's publication, is not facing disciplinary procedures. While the Church has repeated its commitment to taking seriously its response to the review, its governing body stopped short of backing a fully independent safeguarding model to handle complaints in February.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Seven Church of England priests face disciplinary process over abuse scandal
LONDON - Seven Church of England priests, including a former senior bishop, will face disciplinary proceedings over safeguarding failures in the first such move since Archbishop Justin Welby was forced to stand down last year over a child abuse scandal. Former Archbishop George Carey, who was in February named in a list of 10 historic cases that would be considered by an independent judicial process, would not face any further action, the Church also said in an update published on Thursday. The Church of England - central to 85 million Anglicans worldwide - has been in crisis over safeguarding the vulnerable since a November report said ex-leader Welby had taken insufficient action to stop a prolific abuser. In February it identified 10 cases that should be independently re-examined because they had happened too long ago to be considered by the Church's usual processes. Former Bishop of Durham Paul Butler - who held one of the most senior bishoprics in the Church from 2014 to 2024 - is among those facing disciplinary proceedings. That process could result in penalties such as a permanent ban from ministry. Butler was responsible for safeguarding oversight in 16,000 Anglican churches in the country from 2010-2016. The proceedings against him and others form the next stage of the Church's efforts to restore trust following November's review. Welby, who stepped down within a month of the review's publication, is not facing disciplinary procedures. While the Church has repeated its commitment to taking seriously its response to the review, its governing body stopped short of backing a fully independent safeguarding model to handle complaints in February. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
ITV News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Seven Church of England clergy to face disciplinary action over Makin review
Seven Church of England clergy, including a bishop, will face disciplinary proceedings over the same abuse report which triggered the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. The Church has confirmed retired former Bishop of Durham Paul Butler, and Sue Colman, wife of Colman's mustard heir Sir Jamie Colman, are among those who could be banned from ministry as a result of the Makin review. Published last year, the review found abuse carried out by Christian camp leader John Smyth was known about by those within the Church, including Welby, and was not acted upon. Welby stepped down in November, and has spoken of feeling a "deep sense of personal failure" about how he handled allegations about the most prolific abuser associated with the Church. After Welby's resignation, the Church's national safeguarding team said they would look into all clergy criticised by the report. The seven facing disciplinary proceedings are: The Makin report concluded Mrs Colman, associate minister at St Leonard's Church in Oakley, Hampshire, was aware of Smyth's abuse before being ordained. It also noted that she and her husband visited Smyth in Africa in the 1990s and funded the Smyths through a personal trust. Around a week after the Makin report was published, the Diocese of Winchester said Mrs Colman had been asked to 'step back from all ministerial duties'. The Church confirmed on Thursday that former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, Revd Paul Perkin and Revd Hugh Palmer will face no action. Proceedings under the Clergy Discipline 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. As there is a 12-month time limit on cases being brought, the Church's national safeguarding team had to ask for permission to bring disciplinary action 'out of time'. Permission was granted in only seven of the ten cases and the Church's team said it 'entirely respects' the decision from the 'independent judicial process'. John Smyth was a British barrister who abused more than 100 children and young men in the UK and Africa. He died in South Africa in 2018. Among his victims were a number of pupils at Winchester College in the 1970s and 80s. He chaired Christian charity The Iwerne Trust, which ran religious holiday camps. He is said to have subjected his victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks. The Church's national safeguarding team said it will make no further comment on the cases while disciplinary proceedings are under way and no timeline has been given for when they might conclude. It said victims, survivors and all those criticised in the Makin review have been informed and have been offered support.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cathedral has spending suspended over debts
A cathedral can no longer spend money after hundreds of thousands of pounds in debts were discovered. Bangor Cathedral in Gwynedd has had its spending suspended after furniture worth £418,000 was part-funded by the diocese and about £20,000 was spent on three trips abroad - two to Rome and one to Dublin - sources close to the cathedral told BBC-produced Newyddion S4C. It comes after the publication of two critical report summaries earlier this month which outlined concerns relating to safeguarding, behaviour and financial management at the church. A cathedral spokesperson said it had agreed to repay the cost of the trips and an "independent review" last year found no financial inconsistencies. Multiple serious referrals made about cathedral Calls for Archbishop to resign over safeguarding reports Safeguarding investigation launched at cathedral The debts are to the Bangor Diocese, which is a separate charity. The trips were allegedly paid for by the diocese, despite mainly involving cathedral staff, with the second Rome visit characterised by its extravagance. It is said to have involved "an overnight stay in the Radisson at Manchester Airport before an early flight, followed by accommodation in four-star hotels in Rome, plus dinner and taxis throughout". It was also alleged that "most of the participants on the second and third trips did not contribute towards the cost". The cathedral acknowledged there was inadequate consultation and information regarding the expenditure on furniture and that the Dean and Chapter of Bangor Cathedral had agreed to repay the costs of the trips abroad. It also said the Church in Wales centrally was helping rectify issues with financial record-keeping and the debt would be repaid by next year. The cathedral said, while spending was suspended, it was continuing with the process of appointing a new dean. Church report into inappropriate behaviour claims Church at precarious moment after Welby resignation Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over Church abuse scandal
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
'You have to jam it on': King Charles's Coronation advice to Justin Welby as archbishop feared breaking the monarch's NECK with the crown
Crowning a king is enough to make anyone nervous. But imagine the pressure of being told one wrong move could kill him. That was the situation faced by former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at King Charles's Coronation in May 2023. During a rehearsal in the Buckingham Palace ballroom, Dr Welby put his hands up to mimic holding the crown. As he prepared to place it on the monarch's head, King Charles told him: 'You have to jam it on.' He added: 'It has to come down to here first - and then push down. Because otherwise, if it's at the back, it's fatal.' Concerned about hurting him, Dr Welby said to Charles: 'I don't want to break your neck, sir. It might ruin the service!' The King, who grew up watching his mother wearing the Imperial Crown around the palace to practise before events, reassured the archbishop that it wouldn't cause any harm, the Mail's Robert Hardman reveals in his book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story. Dr Welby, who stepped down in January amid controversy over the Church of England's handling of child abuser John Smyth, then placed a replica of the 4.9lb St Edward's Crown on Charles's head. The King was sitting on St Mary's Chair, rather than the real Coronation throne. Dr Welby's nerves showed in other ways, as BBC footage of the rehearsals revealed last year. The then-archbishop was seen fumbling his lines during one of the run-throughs. He said: 'And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain with you now that can't be right.' The Archbishop of York then leaned over and added, 'and always'. He joked: 'You must have said this before?' The off-the-cuff remark prompted laughter from everyone present - including the King. A grinning Charles shook his head and laughed, then added: 'You knew that was coming.' Dr Welby finished the blessing with: 'Be with you and remain with you always. Amen.' There was even a humorous father-and-son moment between Prince William and Charles. The Charles III: The Coronation Year documentary, co-produced and written by Mr Hardman, showed the scene when William practised giving Charles his 'Stole Royal' - an embroidered cloth band symbolising the sacred nature of kingship. The Prince remarked on how fiddly the catch was and joked to his father: 'On the day it's not going to go in, is it?' The King laughed and replied: '[But] you haven't got sausage fingers like mine!' During the Coronation itself, Queen Camilla backed away from Dr Welby when he was holding her crown. One of the ladies-in-attendance, Lady Lansdowne, revealed: 'But I think that was just because she was worried that the archbishop was going to tread on her dress so she was just pulling herself back.' The Queen's sister, Annabel Elliot, her other lady-in-attendance, added: 'She was obviously incredibly nervous. She doesn't show it a lot, but I know her well enough. 'I think he [the King] was very proud of her. And I think there was a sense of, "I can't believe it. We've made it."'
