Child abuse in Sussex: new laws 'essential' after decades of Church scandals
The Church of England has been the centre of countless high profile scandals across the country and is currently subject of a national inquiry.
The Diocese of Chichester – which covers the whole of East and West Sussex – is being used as a case study.
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Hide AdRichard Scorer, who represents many abuse survivors at the inquiry, said the Church faces a ‘damning’ report on its failures.
He said: “Every diocese in the country has abuses of the kind that were there in the Diocese of Chichester.
“I think that the report will certainly be damning about safeguarding failures.”
The inquiry is due to publish a report into clerical abuse in the Anglican Church in Sussex in the next couple of months.
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Hide AdMr Scorer says that tough new measures are needed to keep children safe in Sussex and the rest of the UK.
He called for not reporting child abuse to the police when you know or suspect it is occurring to be made a criminal offence.
The inquiry heard last year that a former Sussex bishop failed to report paedophile priests to authorities and may have gone so far as to actively protect them.
Call for Church volunteers to face background checks
Mr Scorer also addressed the large numbers of volunteers working in the Church in Sussex, and the problem that creates for safeguarding when they do not have background checks.
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Hide AdHe said: “Because of the number of children that are passing through church organisations and church institutions it is essential that those proper checks are done.”
'Self-interested' Church must not be allowed to investigate itself
He continued: “The other issue we have been stressing particularly in relation to the Church of England is we want some independent body to investigate and examine complaints of abuse and sexual harassment.”
Mr Scorer argued that processes that allow the Church to investigate abuse allegations itself risk people being ‘conflicted’ and ‘self-interested’.
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Hide AdThe Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) is due to publish an interim report on the Church in Sussex in the coming months.
The Diocese of Chichester declined to comment until the inquiry is completed.
Support from The Truth Project
The Truth Project, allows abuse survivors to tell their story in a supportive setting.
It is run in conjunction with the IICSA. Visit: truthproject.org.uk.