Archbishop of York faces requires resignation over dealing with of abuse case
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell is facing growing calls to step aside as interim leader of the Church of England over his handling of a sexual misconduct case involving a priest during his tenure as bishop of Chelmsford.
Critics say Archbishop Cottrell allowed David Tudor to remain in ministry despite restrictions disallowing him from being alone with children and a financial settlement paid to one of his accusers.
The archbishop has defended his actions at the time, according to The Associated Press: “I suspended David Tudor from office at the first opportunity, when a new victim came forward to the police in 2019.”
Tudor was permanently barred from ministry in October after admitting to sexual relationships with two teenage girls in the 1980s.
“I am deeply sorry that we were not able to take action earlier, but that was the situation I inherited,” Archbishop Cottrell said, adding that suggestions he ignored or protected an abuser were “extremely disappointing” and “nothing could be further from the truth.”
The controversy comes as Archbishop Cottrell is set to take over as interim leader of the Church of England on Jan. 6, following Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s resignation. The AP reports that Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley questioned Archbishop Cottrell’s suitability.
“My personal view is that the evidence before us makes it impossible for Stephen Cottrell to be that person in which we have confidence and trust to drive the change that is needed,” Bishop Hartley argued.
Mr. Welby resigned after an independent investigation found he failed to report allegations of abuse by John Smyth, a volunteer at Christian camps, to police in a timely manner.
The Church of England, comprised of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, continues to face criticism for its handling of abuse cases. Many say these failures reflect a lack of accountability among its leaders.
Archbishop Cottrell’s temporary appointment is set to last until a permanent successor to Mr. Welby is selected, a process that involves extensive consultation within the church and is anticipated to take several months to finalize.
