Statements regarding BBC File on Four Blackburn Cathedral case
 

Work is underway in all 42 dioceses on the Church of England's Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2) with a key focus on listening to survivors who want to come forward. The Church was criticised for not including their voices in the original PCR 2007/8 as shown in an independent scrutiny report, published in 2018.

The independent report into the Church's handling of its 2007-9 Past Cases Review, PCR, has been published today.

Details of the proposed financial award framework for the Church of England’s national Redress Scheme have been published along with information about the proposed approach to funding the Redress Scheme. 

Safe Spaces is planned as a vital support service for survivors of church-related abuse across the Church of England and the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 has been amended to include a new section 22A which expands “Position of Trust” offences to include anyone who is coaching, teaching, training, supervising or instructing in a sport or a religion. 

The meeting began with an announcement by the chair, the Church’s lead safeguarding bishop, Jonathan Gibbs, that the contract for Zena Marshall, as interim national safeguarding director, has been extended to April 2022.

STATEMENT / Lead safeguarding Bishop responds to BBC Panorama programme.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Lincoln have met together to pray and discuss next steps following the conclusion of the clergy disciplinary process instigated after the Bishop’s suspension in May 2019 and subsequent investigation. 

Statements from Bishop Stephen, Archbishop Justin and the National Safeguarding Team.