The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has issued a statement after being named in a report into the Church of England’s handling of serious abuse which led to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Following the publication of the Makin Review, which looked into prolific abuse within the Church by the late John Smyth QC, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned on Tuesday.
The independent review mentioned the Rt Rev Martin Seeley, saying that a former Anglican clergyman, Rico Tice, reported being asked by him about Smyth in the 1990s when Tice was applying for ordination.
Bishop Martin was then a selection secretary on the Church’s Advisory Board of Ministry in London - however, he said that he had no recollection of ever having asked the question about Smyth.
He said: “The Makin Review reports that they were told by someone whom I interviewed in the early 1990s as part of the selection process for ordination that I asked them about John Smyth.
“I standby in every detail what I said in the report that I have no recollection of this whatsoever, either of asking such a question, or of being asked to ask such a question.
“By way of context the interview process for the ministry is a series of one to one interviews with four different panel members across three days and is governed by strict reporting protocols. I served as a selection secretary for five years and participated in about 40 such selection conferences.
“I would have used the same questions for each candidate. I do remember this selection conference and I am certain I would have remembered if I had been asked to deviate from the normal questions.
“I am also certain I would have reported any information I was given relating to a safeguarding concern.
The Bishop, who is due to retire in February 2025, also expressed his horror at the abuse perpetrated by Smyth.
He said: “I am truly horrified by the abuse that John Smyth perpetrated on young Christians, the damage done to people’s lives both by him and by the failure of individuals in the Church and other institutions to respond well.
“I support calls for the continued development of robust safeguarding processes, building on all the work that has been done since John Smyth committed his abuse in the 1970s and 1980s.
“I am also committed to ensuring that those safeguarding processes are focused on preventing abuse and exist within a culture where any concerns are raised and dealt with supportively, and transparently.”
“I would like to restate my profound gratitude and appreciation for the victims who came forward to reveal the horrific extent of Smyth’s abuse, for their courage, grace and dignity.”
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