Faith
Archbishop of York Cleared in Safeguarding Case
Faith Facts
- The Church of England’s disciplinary president found no grounds for action against Archbishop Stephen Cottrell regarding his handling of safeguarding complaints.
- Archbishop Cottrell expressed regret over past decisions and committed to a survivor-centered approach moving forward.
- Significant improvements have been made to the Church’s safeguarding standards in recent years.
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell was cleared of misconduct following a detailed review of his response to concerns about former priest David Tudor. Sir Stephen Males determined there was no authority to remove Tudor at the time the issues were raised.
The Archbishop acknowledged mistakes in how the situation was managed and expressed sorrow for the impact on those affected.
“With today’s trauma-informed understanding – which rightly places greater emphasis on listening carefully to survivors and recognising the lasting harm caused by abuse – I would take a different approach now.”
He affirmed his commitment to improving safeguarding practices and meeting with survivors to ensure a safer church for all.
As Christians, we must continue to pray for healing, justice, and integrity in our church leaders, standing firm in our calling to uphold truth and compassion in every circumstance.