The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have apologised to abuse survivors who they say have been "let down by the church".
It follows a BBC investigation which found that a clergyman at Blackburn Cathedral who had reportedly been assessed as a potential risk to children and young people was given a pay-out.
Canon Andrew Hindley worked in the Diocese of Blackburn from 1991 to 2021, and was subject to five police investigations, including into allegations of sexual assault. However, he did not leave his post until 2022 when it's believed he was offered a payment in the region of £240,000.
The BBC said the exact amount was not clear because it was subject to non-disclosure agreements.
In a statement on its website the Church of England said:
“The case highlighted on the BBC today is complicated and very difficult for everyone involved particularly those who came forward. A number of allegations were made about the Canon over a number of years and a risk assessment was conducted. In the event, none of the allegations resulted either in a conviction in the criminal courts, or in a determination of misconduct in the independent Church courts through the Clergy Discipline Measure.”
The statement went on to say that Hindley, who served as a Canon Sacrist, had been removed from office on health grounds by the former Bishop of Blackburn in 2021, but had then brought a claim in the High Court for a judicial review of that decision, and payment was made in settlement.
In its report, the BBC said a risk assessment into Canon Hindley had been carried out by the NSPCC which found he presented "a risk of significant harm to children and young people" and advised he "should have no unsupervised contact with children or young people".
The Archbishop of Canterbury Most Rev Justin Welby and the Archbishop of York, Most Rev Stephen Cottrell issued a joint statement saying they had both been made aware of the case “including the concerning background and the challenges caused by statutory and Church processes ending with no further action."
“We absolutely believe that there is no place in ministry for people who are a risk or pose a risk to others and continue to work to ensure that our systems are made ever stronger and more robust.”
They added that the case highlights the “complexity of our structures and processes… the Church has made huge strides in safeguarding in the past 10 years particularly in listening to the voices of survivors and victims. However, this case, which goes back many years, shows that we are still working to get our processes right and we must learn from the mistakes of the past."
Justin Humphreys who is CEO of the safeguarding charity Thirty One Eight (31:8) told Premier:
“It’s deeply troubling that there is a system where risk assessments can be undertaken by external experts, and that those assessments can assess a degree of risk, whether that's minimal or high, and for individuals who have been subject to those assessments to still be left in post.
"I think one of the many complexities that we face in situations like this is that it doesn't necessarily require a charge or conviction to demonstrate a risk of harm. So for these assessments to identify risk, and for them not to lead to sufficient safeguards being put in place is extremely worrying.”
The BBC says Canon Hindley claimed he was subjected to a campaign to drive him from the church, arguing it was motivated by homophobia and personal agendas.
The Church of England is currently reviewing the disciplinary procedure for members of clergy (Clergy Discipline Measure), as recommended by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), and that a review of risk assessment regulations and guidance is underway.