Reasons given for judge’s Warrington decision
THE judge who considered an out-of-time Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) complaint brought by the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Bev Mason, against the then Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, concluded that she had “not discharged the burden upon her of establishing ‘good reason’ why she did not institute proceedings at an earlier date”, it was disclosed this week. The judge — the Deputy President of Tribunals, David Turner KC — also concluded that Bishop Mason was “not a vulnerable adult” at the time of the alleged conduct. The outline of the decision, made in December, was presented in a ruling by the President of Tribunals, Sir Stephen Males KC, which was published on 3 February. That ruling, however, declined a request for the full decision to be made public, citing correspondence from Bishop Mason in which she expressed concern about the confidentiality of the process. Sir Stephen accordingly decided that the earlier ruling should not be made available to the trustees and senior staff of the Archbishops’ Council — the secretary-general, William Nye, had made the request — nor to the public at large. Sir Stephen concluded: “The decision refers to representations of a highly personal and sensitive nature which were made by the parties on the basis that the decision would be confidential . . . In my judgment that must be the primary consideration in the absence of consent to disclosure by the parties. It is also necessary to bear in mind that the allegations made against the respondent are disputed and have not been the subject of any determination.”
Chancellor of Truro Cathedral suspended
THE Chancellor of Truro Cathedral, Canon Alan Bashforth, has been suspended pending an independent safeguarding assessment, a statement from the cathedral says. The suspension, which is up to three months, follows a safeguarding complaint relating to a vulnerable adult. “Suspension is to facilitate the investigation of the complaint and to safeguard the complainant,” the statement says. Canon Bashforth, a former police officer, is also the Chapter’s Safeguarding Trustee. The statement continues: “Arrangements have been made with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team to support the cathedral’s safeguarding work during this period. The work of the cathedral goes on. Daily worship continues in the usual pattern.” The announcement “relates solely to Truro Cathedral” and “is not connected in any way with announcements made by the Church of England concerning the Makin Report”, it says.
Couple ordered to reinstall Scottish bells
A COUPLE who removed the bells from a church in Dumfriesshire, which they had bought in 2019, have been ordered by the Scottish government to reinstall them to protect the character of the building, The Times reports. Mark and Rachel Huitson-Bonde, who bought the Holywood Church from the Church of Scotland for £52,000, lowered the bells and moved them to a secure vault, saying in their appeal document that the bells were “worth a fortune” and must be protected from vandals who had caused damage near by. Dumfries and Galloway Council, however, said: “The removal of the bells . . . has an adverse impact on the fabric, character, special architectural and historic interest of the listed building. It has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the removal of the two bells is necessary for purposes of either security or safety.”
RC bishop apologises over priest’s alleged abuse
THE RC Bishop of Down & Connor, the Rt Revd Alan McGuckian, has apologised to abuse victims and survivors for not issuing a statement in October 2004 when the diocese received a “credible allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor” against a parish priest, Fr Patrick O’Neill, who died in November 2009. Bishop McGuckian said in a statement on Tuesday that, last year, he had been informed that the diocese had received a separate “entirely credible” allegation against Fr O’Neill. Concerning the 2004 allegation, Bishop McGuckian said that a statement had been drafted at the time, but not issued; this was a matter of “deep regret”. There had also been “three credible allegations of sexual abuse of adults, manipulation and abuse of power made against Fr O’Neill received by the diocese in 2003, 2005, and 2006”, he said, relating to Fr O’Neill’s ministry in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. All were referred to the Public Prosecution Service. Bishop McGuckian said: “I extend my deepest sorrow and unreserved apology to all those who have courageously come forward.”
