AI Sentiment: Bearish
Reason: The incoming head of the Church of England, Stephen Cottrell, is under scrutiny for his handling of a sexual abuse case, causing victims and advocates to call for his resignation.
The incoming interim head of the Church of England, Bishop Stephen Cottrell, is facing increasing pressure for his handling of a sexual abuse case. Cottrell, who will be taking over from the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is being questioned for his role in a case involving the late Robert Waddington, a former dean of Manchester.
Waddington, who died in 2007, was accused of sexually abusing children in the UK and Australia for several decades. Despite these allegations emerging in 2003, Waddington was never prosecuted. The Church of England's handling of the case came under scrutiny in 2013, leading to an independent review in 2014, which criticised the Church's response to the allegations.
Bishop Cottrell was criticised in the report for his response to a complaint made against Waddington in 2003 when he was Bishop of Reading. The report stated that Cottrell did not take the appropriate action when he received the complaint. Despite this criticism, Cottrell was appointed as Archbishop of York in 2020, and is set to become the interim leader of the Church of England when Welby takes a sabbatical later this year.
Victims of sexual abuse and advocates are now calling on Cottrell to step aside from his new role until a full investigation into his handling of the case is completed. They argue that his appointment sends a negative message about the Church's commitment to dealing with sexual abuse.
In response to the criticism, Cottrell has stated that he regrets not acting more decisively when he received the complaint about Waddington in 2003. He has also pledged to make safeguarding a priority during his tenure as interim head of the Church of England.
This situation underscores the ongoing challenges that religious institutions face in dealing with historical cases of sexual abuse. It also highlights the importance of strong leadership and proper handling of such cases to maintain public trust and confidence.