'Woke' UK Archbishop Accused of Shielding Pedophile Priest, Reports Say
The BBC has reported that the Archbishop of York permitted a well-known sexual abuser to retain his position within the Church of England on two occasions. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Stephen Cottrell has been urged to resign after a BBC investigation revealed that he reappointed a clergyman who allegedly assaulted at least five girls. The Archbishop of York is facing scrutiny for signing off on David Tudor's continued position within the Church of England on two occasions: once in 2013 and again in 2018.
Cottrell made these decisions despite being aware that Tudor had been barred from ministry for five years in 1988 due to accusations of sexually assaulting three girls. Moreover, it was reported that Tudor paid £10,000 in 2012 to a woman who alleged he abused her when she was 11 years old. The Church of England also issued a six-figure settlement to another alleged victim of Tudor in 2018. Tudor was ultimately suspended in 2019 when police began investigating a new case of sexual abuse involving a minor from the 1980s.
Since returning to the clergy in 1994, Tudor has been prohibited from being alone with children. In 2018, Cottrell was informed by Church authorities that he had the option to remove Tudor from his role as area dean, but he chose not to do so.
Tudor was additionally appointed honorary canon of Chelmsford Cathedral in 2015. Cottrell's office explained to the BBC that the title was automatically given to Tudor and was "not a promotion and not a personal reward." Nevertheless, a social media announcement from Tudor’s parish at that time referred to the title as acknowledgment of his “hard work, determination and commitment.”
Cottrell’s office stated, “Even though David Tudor was already area dean when Stephen Cottrell arrived in the diocese in 2010, as the then diocesan bishop of Chelmsford he accepts responsibility for David Tudor remaining as area dean. On reflection, he acknowledges this could have been handled differently, and regrets that it wasn’t.”
Two female bishops have called for an investigation into Cottrell’s management of the Tudor situation. Rachel Treweek, the bishop of Gloucester, noted on BBC Radio 4 that there are significant questions that need addressing, while Helen-Ann Hartley, the bishop of Newcastle, stated on social media that Cottrell can no longer be regarded as a “credible voice as the leadership of the Church of England.”
An unnamed victim of Tudor commented to the BBC that Cottrell should “do the honorable thing for the sake of the Church and resign.”
Cottrell is seen as a liberal figure in an already liberal church. In February, he and Archbishop Welby announced their intention to “publicly, unreservedly, and joyfully welcome same-sex couples in church,” allowing clergy to bless couples who are married or in civil unions. Conservative British media later criticized Cottrell as “woke” after he described the first line of the Lord’s Prayer as “problematic” for referring to God as “our father.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Cottrell made these decisions despite being aware that Tudor had been barred from ministry for five years in 1988 due to accusations of sexually assaulting three girls. Moreover, it was reported that Tudor paid £10,000 in 2012 to a woman who alleged he abused her when she was 11 years old. The Church of England also issued a six-figure settlement to another alleged victim of Tudor in 2018. Tudor was ultimately suspended in 2019 when police began investigating a new case of sexual abuse involving a minor from the 1980s.
Since returning to the clergy in 1994, Tudor has been prohibited from being alone with children. In 2018, Cottrell was informed by Church authorities that he had the option to remove Tudor from his role as area dean, but he chose not to do so.
Tudor was additionally appointed honorary canon of Chelmsford Cathedral in 2015. Cottrell's office explained to the BBC that the title was automatically given to Tudor and was "not a promotion and not a personal reward." Nevertheless, a social media announcement from Tudor’s parish at that time referred to the title as acknowledgment of his “hard work, determination and commitment.”
Cottrell’s office stated, “Even though David Tudor was already area dean when Stephen Cottrell arrived in the diocese in 2010, as the then diocesan bishop of Chelmsford he accepts responsibility for David Tudor remaining as area dean. On reflection, he acknowledges this could have been handled differently, and regrets that it wasn’t.”
Two female bishops have called for an investigation into Cottrell’s management of the Tudor situation. Rachel Treweek, the bishop of Gloucester, noted on BBC Radio 4 that there are significant questions that need addressing, while Helen-Ann Hartley, the bishop of Newcastle, stated on social media that Cottrell can no longer be regarded as a “credible voice as the leadership of the Church of England.”
An unnamed victim of Tudor commented to the BBC that Cottrell should “do the honorable thing for the sake of the Church and resign.”
Cottrell is seen as a liberal figure in an already liberal church. In February, he and Archbishop Welby announced their intention to “publicly, unreservedly, and joyfully welcome same-sex couples in church,” allowing clergy to bless couples who are married or in civil unions. Conservative British media later criticized Cottrell as “woke” after he described the first line of the Lord’s Prayer as “problematic” for referring to God as “our father.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
