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| Methodist Church apologises for abuse spanning decades | Methodist Church apologises for abuse spanning decades |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UK's Methodist Church has made a public apology after an investigation uncovered nearly 2,000 reported cases of abuse - including 914 allegations involving sexual abuse. | |
| The independent inquiry looked at the Church's response to complaints and allegations dating back to 1950. | The independent inquiry looked at the Church's response to complaints and allegations dating back to 1950. |
| General secretary, the Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, said abuse would "remain a deep source of grief and shame to the Church". | General secretary, the Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, said abuse would "remain a deep source of grief and shame to the Church". |
| The NSPCC urged it to protect children. | The NSPCC urged it to protect children. |
| Report chairman Jane Stacey, former deputy chief executive of the children's charity Barnardo's, called for a culture change in the Church. | Report chairman Jane Stacey, former deputy chief executive of the children's charity Barnardo's, called for a culture change in the Church. |
| Ministers of religion were in an "almost unique position of trust" at "very vulnerable times" in people's lives, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, calling for "more robust accountability structures". | Ministers of religion were in an "almost unique position of trust" at "very vulnerable times" in people's lives, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, calling for "more robust accountability structures". |
| 'Worthless and devalued' | 'Worthless and devalued' |
| She added: "Some of the individual case reviewers who looked at the material that was submitted to the review found themselves questioning, and really being quite upset, at the volume coming through. | She added: "Some of the individual case reviewers who looked at the material that was submitted to the review found themselves questioning, and really being quite upset, at the volume coming through. |
| "I think society at large needs to understand there is a lot more abuse but also areas of concern than people ever thought - and the Church is no exception." | "I think society at large needs to understand there is a lot more abuse but also areas of concern than people ever thought - and the Church is no exception." |
| The Church commissioned the review - which took three years to complete - because it said it wanted to be open about the past and to have stronger safeguarding procedures in the future. | The Church commissioned the review - which took three years to complete - because it said it wanted to be open about the past and to have stronger safeguarding procedures in the future. |
| In total, it identified 1,885 cases - including alleged sexual, physical, emotional and domestic abuse, as well as cases of neglect. | In total, it identified 1,885 cases - including alleged sexual, physical, emotional and domestic abuse, as well as cases of neglect. |
| Allegations of sexual abuse formed the largest number of cases. | Allegations of sexual abuse formed the largest number of cases. |
| Ministers or lay employees were involved in 26% of the alleged cases of abuse, the investigation found. | Ministers or lay employees were involved in 26% of the alleged cases of abuse, the investigation found. |
| That figure increased to 33% when Church members, such as worship leaders and local preachers, were also included. | That figure increased to 33% when Church members, such as worship leaders and local preachers, were also included. |
| One of the cases concerned the grooming of teenage girls on Facebook, while another involved a minister allegedly making sexual advances to children. Another involved a Methodist youth officer who had indecent images of children on his computer. | One of the cases concerned the grooming of teenage girls on Facebook, while another involved a minister allegedly making sexual advances to children. Another involved a Methodist youth officer who had indecent images of children on his computer. |
| One of the abuse survivors who responded to the survey said: "I have learnt that it is impossible to recover from sexual abuse when no-one recognises the seriousness of it. My Church did not want a scandal, my parents did not want a scandal. | One of the abuse survivors who responded to the survey said: "I have learnt that it is impossible to recover from sexual abuse when no-one recognises the seriousness of it. My Church did not want a scandal, my parents did not want a scandal. |
| "I was left to feel worthless and devalued, while the man was left to get on with his life and for all I know repeat the crime with someone else. I was emotionally and physically devastated." | "I was left to feel worthless and devalued, while the man was left to get on with his life and for all I know repeat the crime with someone else. I was emotionally and physically devastated." |
| Another welcomed the review, saying: "I want to prevent the Church and other people from handling things wrong in the future. I don't want other girls to suffer like I have." | Another welcomed the review, saying: "I want to prevent the Church and other people from handling things wrong in the future. I don't want other girls to suffer like I have." |
| 'Dark history' | 'Dark history' |
| Rev Atkins, who is also secretary of the Methodist Conference, said: "On behalf of the Methodist Church in Britain I want to express an unreserved apology for the failure of its current and earlier processes fully to protect children, young people and adults from physical and sexual abuse inflicted by some ministers. | Rev Atkins, who is also secretary of the Methodist Conference, said: "On behalf of the Methodist Church in Britain I want to express an unreserved apology for the failure of its current and earlier processes fully to protect children, young people and adults from physical and sexual abuse inflicted by some ministers. |
| "The abuse that has been inflicted by some Methodists on children, young people and adults is and will remain a deep source of grief and shame to the Church." | "The abuse that has been inflicted by some Methodists on children, young people and adults is and will remain a deep source of grief and shame to the Church." |
| The Church is expected to also make a public apology at its annual conference in June. | |
| An NSPCC spokesman said: "This is a horrifying catalogue of abuse that the Methodist Church has revealed by confronting the dark side of its history. | An NSPCC spokesman said: "This is a horrifying catalogue of abuse that the Methodist Church has revealed by confronting the dark side of its history. |
| "Having had the courage to come clean about the extent of abuse, they [the Church] must now have measures in place to ensure there are no more such incidents and all children they have dealings with are given the protection and support they deserve." | "Having had the courage to come clean about the extent of abuse, they [the Church] must now have measures in place to ensure there are no more such incidents and all children they have dealings with are given the protection and support they deserve." |
| David Greenwood, chairman of the Stop Church Child Abuse campaign, said: "The cases examined are only the ones documented in the past. Many will not have been recorded. We will never know how many cases have not been handled properly." | David Greenwood, chairman of the Stop Church Child Abuse campaign, said: "The cases examined are only the ones documented in the past. Many will not have been recorded. We will never know how many cases have not been handled properly." |