The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, is facing intense pressure to resign after revelations about his handling of a sex abuse case involving a priest.
This comes just days before he is set to temporarily take charge of the Church of England.
As Bishop of Chelmsford, Cottrell allowed priest David Tudor to remain in his position despite knowing Tudor had been barred from being alone with children.
The BBC investigation revealed that Tudor had paid compensation to a sexual abuse victim but was allowed to continue in ministry.
Tudor was only banned from ministry two months ago, after admitting to historical sexual abuse involving two girls.
The fallout from the case has raised questions about Cottrell’s leadership and moral authority.
“The failure to act when he was informed of this case completely undermines his credibility,” said Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Newcastle.
Hartley has joined calls for Cottrell to resign, stating that his inability to take action calls into question his ethical and moral standing.
“How can you have the moral and ethical authority to lead an institution with that?” Hartley told BBC File on 4 Investigates.
A woman who received £10,000 in compensation from Tudor for sexual abuse she suffered as a child also expressed her anger at Cottrell’s inaction.
“I feel like he has spat in my face,” said Jessica (not her real name), adding that Cottrell should leave the Church.
The growing calls for resignation come at a time when the Church of England is already reeling from another scandal.
A recent report uncovered how the Church had covered up widespread abuse by the barrister John Smyth.
That report led to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who had been aware of Tudor’s case.
Welby, along with former Archbishop George Carey, was involved in the matter.
Welby became aware of the case in 2018, while Carey was informed as early as 1993.
The abuse scandal has further damaged the Church’s reputation, with Cottrell now facing intense scrutiny.
David Tudor’s actions are at the heart of this controversy.
Tudor worked for the Church of England for over 46 years, serving in various positions in London, Surrey, and Essex.
He was known for his charismatic preaching and filled churches across the country.
Tudor was also an area dean on Canvey Island in Essex in 2010 when Cottrell became Bishop of Chelmsford.
It was during his first week in office that Cottrell was fully briefed on the longstanding safeguarding concerns about Tudor.
According to a spokesperson for Cottrell, the Archbishop was made aware of several allegations against Tudor, dating back to the 1980s.
In 1988, Tudor was involved in two criminal trials.
He was acquitted of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old schoolgirl, although he admitted to having sex with her when she was 16.
In a separate trial, he was convicted of indecently assaulting three girls but was later exonerated on technical grounds.
Despite these allegations, Tudor was allowed to continue working for the Church, though with restrictions.
In 1989, he was banned from ministry for sexual misconduct, but after five years, he was allowed to return.
In 2005, Tudor was again suspended after police investigated allegations of indecent assault from the 1970s, though he was not charged.
From 2008, Tudor worked under a safeguarding agreement that prohibited him from being alone with children or entering schools in Essex.
However, months later, he was promoted to an area dean, overseeing 12 parishes.
Cottrell’s office defended his actions, stating that during much of his tenure as Bishop of Chelmsford, there were no new complaints that hadn’t already been addressed.
But this has done little to quell the outrage.
Survivor advocates have expressed their disbelief that Tudor was allowed to remain in ministry despite his long history of allegations and suspensions.
