SIX KEY QUESTIONS CHURCH OF ENGLAND MUST ANSWER OVER RECENT ABUSE CONVICTIONS, SAYS CCPAS

“Independent Review needed to prevent further repetitions”

The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS), one of the UK’s leading experts in advising and training Christian and secular organisations in child protection practices, today said that the cases of Peter Halliday and Rev David Smith raises fundamental questions about how church leaders could continue to have a role with children – despite serious concerns having been previously flagged up in both cases.

CCPAS therefore calls on the Church of England to provide answers to the following six key questions:

• Why did the Church, given the knowledge of the manipulative nature of sex offending behaviour, so readily and so naively believe a promise made by a suspected abuser not to be alone with children?
• Will the Church of England commission an independent review in order that the church and others employing workers with children might learn the lessons from this case?
• Will the Church of England take a leaf out of the Catholic Church’s book and now insist on a review of known historic cases with a view to reporting to the statutory authorities where appropriate?

David Pearson, Chief Executive of CCPAS, stressed, 'We are aware of the work of both dioceses involved in the Smith case, and have a high regard generally for their commitment to safeguarding children. We are also pleased the Bishop has apologised and recognised the impact this has had on the victims.

'However, there are clearly a number of serious issues that must be addressed and we hope that our call for an independent review will be heeded by the church authorities.'

For more information about CCPAS, see www.ccpas.co.uk