Archbishop of York ‘categorically rejects’ bullying and coercion allegations

The Archbishop of York has “categorically rejected” allegations that helium bullied members of a committee to unafraid the Rt Rev Dr John Perumbalath’s assignment arsenic Bishop of Liverpool, hours aft the second resigned pursuing intersexual battle and harassment allegations against him.

Bishop Perumbalath said helium decided to discontinue without immoderate admittance of responsibility oregon liability, but to debar the contented being “a distraction”, aft Channel 4 quality reported earlier this week that 1 pistillate had accused the bishop of kissing her without consent and groping her, and different pistillate accused him of intersexual harassment.

The 2nd complainant has present identified herself arsenic the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Beverley Mason, who successful a connection called it a “biblical imperative” that “a bishop cannot beryllium supra the law”.

On Thursday evening, Channel 4 quality shared an relationship from idiosyncratic who sat connected the committee which met successful 2022 to sermon the Bishop of Liverpool appointment.

The Archbishop of York and Bishop of Oxford categorically cull immoderate proposition of coercion oregon bullying during a Crown Nominations Commission (CNC)

Archbishop of York spokesperson

The relationship claims Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell and Bishop of Oxford Steven Croft coerced different members to alteration their ballot contempt safeguarding concerns astir Bishop Perumbalath.

It comes astatine a tumultuous clip for the Church of England implicit assorted safeguarding failures, which has already seen Justin Welby discontinue arsenic Archbishop of Canterbury implicit the handling of a abstracted case.

A spokesperson for the Archbishop of York – who has faced his ain calls to resign implicit abstracted alleged safeguarding failures – said: “The Archbishop of York and Bishop of Oxford categorically cull immoderate proposition of coercion oregon bullying during a Crown Nominations Commission (CNC). The CNC’s ballot process ensures that no-one knows however others voted, specifically to forestall coercion oregon undue influence.

“The CNC processes are needfully confidential successful bid to support the idiosyncratic discernment of each those involved. Regarding an individual’s competence successful overseeing safeguarding – this is fixed cautious scrutiny successful aggregate ways (formal checks, references, reports, interrogation questions) arsenic portion of the commission’s discernment.

“All shortlisted candidates are interviewed by the nationalist safeguarding squad and a study is written for the CNC. Like each different candidates for this role, Bishop John Perumbalath was interviewed by the nationalist safeguarding squad who recovered nary concerns astir his operational safeguarding acquisition and recommended immoderate improvement enactment for him arsenic helium took connected further strategical safeguarding responsibilities – which is commonly the lawsuit for caller diocesan bishops.

“Regarding the CNC process, it is wholly mean for aggregate votes to instrumentality spot earlier a two-thirds bulk is reached (10 retired of the 14 voting members of the commission). This is portion of the discernment process, wherever votes are cast, discussions hap and differing views are expressed until a two-thirds bulk is reached.”

I refute wholly the proposition that anyone coerced oregon bullied different members of the Crown Nominations Committee (CNC) during the process to name the Bishop of Liverpool successful 2022

Bishop of Oxford Steven Croft

The Bishop of Oxford said helium was not alert of immoderate safeguarding concerns astir Bishop Perumbalath earlier the CNC meeting.

“I americium precise atrocious to larn of the distress of those who person made the allegations against Bishop John Perumbalath,” helium said.

“However, I refute wholly the proposition that anyone coerced oregon bullied different members of the Crown Nominations Committee (CNC) during the process to name the Bishop of Liverpool successful 2022.

“All ballots during the CNC process are secret, truthful nary 1 idiosyncratic is capable to exert unit connected a workfellow to alteration their vote. Every CNC involves signed confidentiality agreements and often aggregate votes.

“I was not alert of immoderate safeguarding concerns astir Bishop John Perumbalath anterior to the CNC meeting. I recognize these were not raised until January 2023, six months aft his nomination.”

The Rt Revd Beverley Mason shared a connection confirming she accused Bishop Perumbalath of intersexual harassment.

She said: “My beloved sisters and brothers galore of you volition beryllium alert of the Channel 4 probe which has present led to the status of the Bishop of Liverpool.

“Whilst the study did not sanction the bishop arsenic myself, I tin present corroborate to you that I americium the 2nd complainant.

“In March 2023, when, arsenic your acting diocesan bishop, I was advised of a ailment raised against the Bishop of Liverpool and a consequent probe by the National Safeguarding Team, I raised what I judge were important concerns, which included my ain disclosure. The absorption of my concerns centred astir owed process.

“Throughout these past 510 days I person remained accordant and persistent successful my pursuit of due and due ecclesiastical judicial process.

“A bishop cannot beryllium supra the law. A bishop cannot beryllium dealt otherwise from a priest. If anything, a bishop indispensable beryllium held to greater scrutiny. This is simply a biblical imperative.”