The head of the Church of
England has said that the institution “colluded” with and helped to hide the
long-term sexual abuse of young men by one of its former bishops.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, made the statement Thursday as the church published a review of how
it handled the case of former bishop Peter Ball, who was convicted and
imprisoned in 2015 after pleading guilty to offenses including two counts of
indecent assault.
Welby said the report was “harrowing
reading” and that the church didn’t help those who were brave enough to come
forward. The report said Ball’s conduct “caused serious and enduring damage to
the lives of many men,” and that “the church at its most senior levels
and over many years supported him unwisely.”
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