A senior clergyman has strongly criticised the Church of England’s handling of safeguarding issues following the resignation of the Bishop of Liverpool.
Reverend Steven Kurt told GB News it was “a terrible day for the Church of England,” highlighting what he described as another example of the institution “handling safeguarding terribly”.
He condemned the Church’s approach of “doing as little as possible for as long as possible” until media attention forces a response.
“It’s the cover up that is always the problem and the seeming lack of transparency, and they simply never learn,” Rev Kurt said.
Reverend Steven Kurt has hit out at allegations facing Bishop John Perumbalath
Wikipedia / GB News
The Rt Rev John Perumbalath has resigned as Bishop of Liverpool following sexual misconduct allegations from two women.
In a letter to clergy in his diocese, he stated: “Having sought the permission of His Majesty the King, I have today taken the decision to retire from active ministry.”
The resignation comes after a female bishop filed a formal complaint of sexual harassment against him last year. A second woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by Perumbalath during his time as Bishop of Bradwell in Essex.
Bishop Perumbalath has denied the allegations against him. In his statement, he claimed that his decision is “not a resignation occasioned by fault or by any admission of liability”.
John Perumbalath has announced he is stepping down following the allegations
Church of England
Rev Kurt warned that such cases will continue to emerge as people now know they will be listened to, “if not by those in authority in the Church, then by those in the media and the wider world”.
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He emphasised that the Church “loses more credibility” with each incident. Kurt stated: “They talk about proper processes being followed, but basically on closer examination or fairly cursory examination, you see that as little was done as possible for as long as possible, and they just hope to get away with it.
“If the Church came out and they were the first ones to say, look, this has happened, we take it very seriously, people are fair minded and people know that things like this occur.”
He concluded that this approach of hoping “to get away with it” is no longer viable and “should never have worked”.
“There’s got to be change, the case itself is terrible – our hearts have got to go out to the people affected, the survivors this alleged abuse”, he said.
Reverend Kurt told GB News that the Church has been doing ‘as little as possible for as long as possible’
GB News
Perumbalath’s statement read: “I do not wish this story to become a distraction for this incredible diocese and its people, whom it has been an honour and joy to serve. This is not a resignation occasioned by fault or by any admission of liability.
“Rather it has become clear that stepping back from my ministry and waiting for the completion of further reviews would mean a long period of uncertainty for the diocese and all those who serve it.
“I have taken this decision for my own well-being, my family and the best interests of the diocese. The exact date when my role will formally end is not yet determined. There are protocols to observe that I will now be attending to.
“But I step back from my ministry today. This means I will not be ministering in or leading the diocese with immediate effect. I have informed the Archbishop of York of my decision and I understand he will put in place the necessary arrangements for episcopal oversight of the diocese for the remainder of my time here and during the vacancy.”
