Lord Carey criminal case would be ‘an attack on us all’, warn Church figures
Letter’s signatories claim former archbishop is being targeted for representing biblically faithful Christians
A CRIMINAL case against Lord Carey would be an attack on traditional Christians, conservative Church of England figures have said.
In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, 10 signatories including the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-ali, former Bishop of Rochester, suggested the former Archbishop of Canterbury was being targeted for his involvement in the Bishop Peter Ball case because of “what he represents of biblically faithful Christianity”.
The letter is also signed by Simon Rufus Isaacs, Marquess of Reading, who is a friend of Prince Charles, the former Bishop of Woolwich Colin Buchanan, and Andrea Williams, of Christian Concern. On Monday The Telegraph reported that police and prosecutors were considering a criminal investigation after the publication of the Gibb report, which found that Lord Carey, 82, was among senior figures who “colluded” with Ball, a convicted sex offender.
The letter says that investigations into child sexual abuse, Operation Yewtree and Operation Hydrant, “have investigated hundreds of cases of suspected misconduct in public office and have yet to bring a case to trial”. It adds: “No one has been charged with any offence in relation to the misdemeanours of Jimmy Savile. The cases against Lord Bramall, Leon Brittan, Edward Heath and Cliff Richard were all dropped.
“Why is Lord Carey being targeted at this time? Certain public leaders appear to be being attacked by insinuation without due process.
“The notion that a criminal case could be brought against Lord Carey is so bizarre that we can only surmise that the object of the persistent pressure that brings these public attacks is not only Lord Carey but what he represents of biblically faithful Christianity. An attack on him is an attack on us all.”
The Gibb report, published last June, found that Lord Carey did not pass on six letters alleging abuse by Ball to police and failed to add his name to a list of clergy who were considered unsuitable to exercise ministry.
Officers working on the potential investigation into Lord Carey are attached to Operation Hydrant, the Met team coordinating responses to allegations arising from the inquiry into child sexual abuse, which is currently hearing evidence about the Anglican Church.
A Hydrant spokeswoman said: “The matters under consideration are complex, and advice is being sought from CPS to understand whether anything contained within the report suggests criminal offences have been committed. This does not equate to a criminal investigation being under way.”