Church of England’s Second-in-Command Will Leave, Says Abuse Survivor
An abuse survivor claims the Archbishop of York’s departure is unavoidable amid ongoing scrutiny over his handling of abuse cases.
Church of England, Abuse Survivor, Stephen Cottrell, Justin Welby, David Tudor, Chelmsford, UK
London: So, there’s been a lot of talk about the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. An abuse survivor recently said it’s pretty much a given that he’ll have to step down. This comes after some serious accusations about how he handled abuse cases.
Starting January 6, Cottrell will take on some of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s duties since Justin Welby is set to resign. Welby’s decision follows a review that revealed he could have reported a notorious abuser, John Smyth, back in 2013 but didn’t.
Now, Cottrell is under fire for his past decisions regarding another abuser, David Tudor. Reports say that while he was Bishop of Chelmsford, he let Tudor stay in his position even after knowing Tudor had been barred from being alone with kids.
Tudor was banned for life this year after admitting to serious sexual abuse involving two young girls. It’s shocking to think he was allowed to work in the church again after previous allegations.
Cottrell claims he was in a tough spot when he took over in Chelmsford and insists he acted as soon as he could. He said he had to wait for new complaints to come in before he could take action against Tudor.
But Rachel Ford, a survivor who was groomed by Tudor, isn’t buying it. She feels Cottrell’s response shows a total lack of empathy for victims. She thinks it’s time for him to go, saying it would send a strong message that things are changing in the Church.
As for the future, the Archbishop of York plays a key role in picking the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The process is expected to wrap up by spring, with the new appointment possibly announced in the fall.