By Muvija M and Toby Melville
LONDON (Reuters) – The Church of England’s interim head Archbishop Stephen Cottrell on Monday pledged better systems to prevent abuse within the Church, acknowledging the damage caused by safeguarding failures that forced former leader Justin Welby to resign last year.
The mother church for 85 million Anglicans in over 165 countries has been engulfed in a crisis over how it protects its members since Welby announced his departure over an abuse cover-up scandal in November.
“I am deeply dismayed by our failings,” Cottrell told the Church’s governing body, which gathered in London for the first time since Welby’s resignation.
Church leaders on Tuesday will debate creating an independent oversight body as it tries to rebuild trust.
“We have a chance to get back on track. I have long believed that greater independence is the missing piece in the safeguarding jigsaw, delivering the accountability and transparency we need,” Cottrell added.
Welby quit after an independent report found he should have done more to stop one of the Church’s most prolific serial abusers.
Subsequent media reports have levelled further allegations of abuse within the Church – including historic accusations of safeguarding failures by Cottrell himself. Cottrell has defended his actions.
“I know that trust has been broken and confidence damaged,” Cottrell said on Monday. “And I am more sorry about this than I can say. I know mistakes have been made. I know that I have made mistakes.”
Earlier, a motion attempting to block Cottrell from speaking was voted down 239 to 73, but nevertheless reflected substantial frustration at the church leadership.
Britons, increasingly less religious, are also growing more sceptical of the institution, which remains deeply ingrained in British culture due to its ceremonial role, most prominently in officiating royal events from weddings to coronations.
A YouGov survey found last week just 25% of Britons had a favourable opinion of the Church, compared to 32% in a November poll conducted before Welby’s resignation. Nearly half now hold a negative view of the Church, up 10 points from the last poll.
(Reporting by Muvija M and Toby Melville; Editing by William James and Christina Fincher)
