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Church of England set to make child abuse apology Church of England makes child abuse apology
(35 minutes later)
The Church of England is expected to make a formal apology for past child abuse by Anglican priests, and its own "serious failure" to prevent it. The Church of England has formally apologised for past child abuse by Anglican priests and its own "serious failure" to prevent it.
The ruling General Synod, meeting in York, is debating a report about abuse in the Chichester Diocese. The ruling General Synod, meeting in York, debated a report about abuse in the Chichester Diocese.
Members will be asked to back an earlier apology issued by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Members unanimously backed an earlier apology issued by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Meanwhile, a man was arrested after two stewards were allegedly attacked at a Synod service in York Minster.Meanwhile, a man was arrested after two stewards were allegedly attacked at a Synod service in York Minster.
A Church of England spokesman said a man entered the minster as the service was starting and attacked the stewards when they asked him to stop.A Church of England spokesman said a man entered the minster as the service was starting and attacked the stewards when they asked him to stop.
He was restrained as members of the congregation and senior members of the church, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, looked on.He was restrained as members of the congregation and senior members of the church, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, looked on.
A member of the Archbishop of York's staff and a steward suffered minor injuries.A member of the Archbishop of York's staff and a steward suffered minor injuries.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, told the Synod child abuse debate there had to be "a complete change of culture and behaviour" in the Church.The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, told the Synod child abuse debate there had to be "a complete change of culture and behaviour" in the Church.
"And, in addition, there is a profound theological point," he added."And, in addition, there is a profound theological point," he added.
"We are not doing all this, we are not seeking to say how devastatingly, appallingly, atrociously sorry we are for the great failure there has been for our own sakes - for our own flourishings, for the protection of the Church - but we are doing it because we are called to live in the justice of God and we will each answer to him for our failings in these areas.""We are not doing all this, we are not seeking to say how devastatingly, appallingly, atrociously sorry we are for the great failure there has been for our own sakes - for our own flourishings, for the protection of the Church - but we are doing it because we are called to live in the justice of God and we will each answer to him for our failings in these areas."
'Own up''Own up'
Introducing the debate earlier, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Right Reverend Paul Butler, said the church had "failed to listen properly". Opening the debate, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Right Reverend Paul Butler, said the church had "failed to listen properly".
"We did not acknowledge the wrong done and we protected the institution at the expense of the person abused," he said."We did not acknowledge the wrong done and we protected the institution at the expense of the person abused," he said.
"We cannot do anything other than own up to our failures - we were wrong.""We cannot do anything other than own up to our failures - we were wrong."
He said the church's "failures were sin just as much as the perpetrators sinned".He said the church's "failures were sin just as much as the perpetrators sinned".
"By failing to listen or to act appropriately, we condemned survivors to live with the harm when we should have been assisting them into whatever measure of healing might be possible.""By failing to listen or to act appropriately, we condemned survivors to live with the harm when we should have been assisting them into whatever measure of healing might be possible."
He read out a statement from victims of child abuse in the Church who called for a public inquiry to find out the number of victims, how the Church protected abusers and whether there was a cover-up.He read out a statement from victims of child abuse in the Church who called for a public inquiry to find out the number of victims, how the Church protected abusers and whether there was a cover-up.
The cases of two priests - Roy Cotton and Colin Pritchard - who abused several children during the 1970s and 1980s, prompted an inquiry into safeguarding procedures in the diocese.The cases of two priests - Roy Cotton and Colin Pritchard - who abused several children during the 1970s and 1980s, prompted an inquiry into safeguarding procedures in the diocese.
Its report described a "profoundly unhelpful and negative culture" there, producing an "appalling" and "dysfunctional" record in handling allegations of abuse.Its report described a "profoundly unhelpful and negative culture" there, producing an "appalling" and "dysfunctional" record in handling allegations of abuse.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, later offered their own apology for "individual wickedness on the part of abusers" and serious failures by the Church to protect children or listen properly to victims.The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, later offered their own apology for "individual wickedness on the part of abusers" and serious failures by the Church to protect children or listen properly to victims.
They said would be a source of grief and shame for years to come.They said would be a source of grief and shame for years to come.
The motion before the Synod is asking members to endorse their apology. The motion before the Synod asked members to endorse their apology.
It could also agree plans to take further legislative and non-legislative steps to improve policies and practices on safeguarding children.
The Synod will be asked to lift the current one-year limit on making complaints of child abuse, and give bishops the right to suspend clergy who are credibly accused of abuse.
'Inescapable truth''Inescapable truth'
Meanwhile the General Synod will also debate the government's welfare changes, which have already been criticised by bishops.Meanwhile the General Synod will also debate the government's welfare changes, which have already been criticised by bishops.
It will decide whether to back a call rejecting the "misleading characterisation" of welfare recipients.It will decide whether to back a call rejecting the "misleading characterisation" of welfare recipients.
A briefing document drawn up for the General Synod by Philip Fletcher, chairman of the Church's Mission and Public Affairs Council, has accused government spokesmen of making "political capital" by presenting unemployment as a "strivers" versus "scroungers" debate.A briefing document drawn up for the General Synod by Philip Fletcher, chairman of the Church's Mission and Public Affairs Council, has accused government spokesmen of making "political capital" by presenting unemployment as a "strivers" versus "scroungers" debate.
Archbishop Welby and Dr Sentamu were among the 43 bishops to write to the Daily Telegraph earlier this year criticising the Government over benefit cuts.Archbishop Welby and Dr Sentamu were among the 43 bishops to write to the Daily Telegraph earlier this year criticising the Government over benefit cuts.
On Saturday, the MP who acts as the Church of England's link in the House of Commons told the Synod it has been divided into a "gathering of tribes" as a result of disputes over the role of women.On Saturday, the MP who acts as the Church of England's link in the House of Commons told the Synod it has been divided into a "gathering of tribes" as a result of disputes over the role of women.
Sir Tony Baldry, Second Church Estates Commissioner was speaking after General Synod members spent the day in private talks in an attempt to solve the impasse over introducing women bishops.Sir Tony Baldry, Second Church Estates Commissioner was speaking after General Synod members spent the day in private talks in an attempt to solve the impasse over introducing women bishops.
A debate and vote on endorsing draft legislation on women bishops is to take place on Monday.A debate and vote on endorsing draft legislation on women bishops is to take place on Monday.
Sir Tony told the meeting: "There is, I believe, an inescapable truth that the Church of England probably has no more than 20 years to reassert its position as the national Church of England," he said.Sir Tony told the meeting: "There is, I believe, an inescapable truth that the Church of England probably has no more than 20 years to reassert its position as the national Church of England," he said.
Church abusers 'went unrecognised'
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