Abuse victims condemn Cary for an ‘abdication of responsibility’

Victims of abuse have condemned the Church of England for its “unforgivable” and “appalling abdication of responsibility” in colluding with disgraced former bishop Peter Ball, who sexually abused young men.

Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, who represents a number of Ball’s victims, said: “It’s clear that senior figures concealed very serious allegations against Ball – the institution colluded with an abuser.

“Evidence that Lord Carey turned a blind eye to reports 0 Former bishop Peter Ball sexually abused young men of Ball’s offending is damning, but the report highlights that failure to safeguard vulnerable boys and young men continued under Carey’s successor, Rowan Williams.

“This appalling abdication of responsibility, from the most senior figures in the church, is unforgivable.

“One of Ball’s victims went on to kill himself.”

Hecalledforamandatory reporting law so that people in positions of responsibility had a legal duty to alert the authorities if they suspect abuse. Those who collude or conceal these crimes should face criminal charges, he said.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “It is utterly disgraceful to discover that collusion at the heart of the Church of England led to the abuse of so many young men and boys.”