The Independent Chair of Diocese of York’s Strategic Safeguarding Board, Professor Sue Proctor, has commented on this week’s Investigation Report ‘The Anglican Church’ by the Independent Investigation into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
Published on the 6th October, the Report concerns the extent to which the Church of England and the Church in Wales protected children from sexual abuse in the past. It also examines the effectiveness of current safeguarding arrangements.
Professor Sue Proctor, Independent Chair of Diocese of York’s Strategic Safeguarding Board, said, “This Report is essential reading for everyone who cares about safeguarding in the Church. It makes for uncomfortable and challenging reading and there is much to learn from the findings of the Inquiry. To all those who have suffered and for those close to them we sincerely and humbly apologise. It is rightly a source of shame and concern for those in the Church who carry responsibility for ensuring the safety of all who visit or participate in its life.
“As the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has said, ‘Safeguarding is fundamental to our faith.’
"The Diocese of York is committed to working with our external statutory partners, and the National Safeguarding Team as together we seek to act locally on the recommendations made by IICSA, particularly regarding the structure and oversight of safeguarding in the Church of England.“
The Report may be read and explored online, or downloaded in full, at
www.iicsa.org.uk/publications/investigation/anglican-church.
The Church of England nationally has responded to the Report:
www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/statement-publication-iicsa-report.
An open letter from the Archbishops of York and Canterbury prior to the report’s publication may be read at www.archbishopofyork.org/news/iicsa-report-open-letter.