The Church of England’s Response to Abuse Allegations: A Call for Reform
The Church of England faces scrutiny following a review that paints a troubling picture of its handling of abuse allegations. According to an independent investigation carried out by Kevin Crompton and commissioned by safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight, the Church’s response to a survivor of alleged sexual and spiritual abuse was inadequate and caused additional trauma.
Jane Chevous, the survivor in question and co-founder of Survivors Voices, reported abuse by clergy to the Diocese of Southwark in 2001. This review highlights failures in the Church’s response, both at the initial report and during a later national safeguarding investigation. Chevous, who has waived her anonymity, expressed her distress over the Church’s actions that prioritized the accused clergy over her well-being.
Chevous’ allegations, involving incidents from 1979 to 1992, were reportedly met with a lack of compassion and inappropriate actions from senior clergy. The investigation found that senior clergy were more concerned with the accused priest’s welfare, even encouraging a meeting between the alleged perpetrator and Chevous, which led to legal threats against her.
The review criticizes the Church for not adopting survivor-centric or trauma-informed practices, despite improvements in safeguarding over the years. It also condemned the use of derogatory terms in internal correspondence towards Chevous.
“Whilst there were no adult safeguarding policies in place at that time, TT was looking for a compassionate and pastoral response,” the report stated, emphasizing the need for accountability and appropriate investigations. The lack of such measures had serious repercussions on Chevous’ mental health, leading to severe distress and suicide attempts.
Further scrutiny was placed on the National Safeguarding Team’s (NST) investigation from 2019 to 2022, which, according to the review, suffered from delays, poor communication, and a failure to address survivors’ needs. The investigation focused primarily on current risks, neglecting the harms suffered by survivors and calls for restorative justice.
The review suggests establishing a separate pathway for survivors seeking restorative justice and acknowledgment of their suffering. It also criticized missed opportunities for further inquiries and restorative approaches.
While the Bishops of Oxford and Southwark were praised for their efforts to provide a “moral response,” the review pointed out significant variance in safeguarding practices across dioceses, largely dependent on local leadership.
The report recommends forming an independent body to oversee safeguarding, free from the influence of senior church leaders, and emphasizes the need for diocesan bishops to foster healthy safeguarding cultures.
Chevous’ experience underscores the necessity for the Church to adopt a system that is consistently survivor-centered and trauma-informed. “The experience of TT along with that of other survivors highlights the importance of ensuring a more survivor-centred, trauma-informed process,” the review stated.
In response to the review, Chevous called for a cultural shift within the Church, advocating for openness, integrity, and moral courage. “The abuse itself caused profound harm, but the Church’s response has been re-traumatising,” she lamented, adding that the Church must go beyond mere compliance with policies to truly support survivors.
Bishop Robert Springett and National Director of Safeguarding, Alexander Kubeyinje, expressed their commitment to learning from the review. “We are deeply sorry for the abuse she reported, and for the profound impact it has had on her life,” they stated, acknowledging the need for improved trauma-informed practices and accountability.
For assistance, contact Thirtyone:eight’s helpline or the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
