The Bishop of Newcastle, Rt Rev Dr Ann Hartley, has said she thinks there is a “culture of fear” in the Church of England over abuse.
Bishop Ann was the most senior clergy member to call on the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign, following the Makin Review into abuse by the late John Smyth.
Speaking to IRN, she said: “I thought I would be joined by colleagues who I knew privately were discerning that it was probably the right thing for the Archbishop to resign.
“It's a great disappointment to me that when I called for that publicly, I was indeed a lone voice. So I have no real explanation for that, other than there is a culture, I think, of silence and fear amongst the bishops, which is really unhealthy.”
She described the Church’s way of operating as “dysfunctional”, saying that when it comes to controversial issues of sexuality or abuse, many senior leaders have a “heads down” approach.
A further accusation was that some senior clergy members might avoid speaking up against those who mishandle abuse reports, due to concerns over their career progression within the Church.
“Some are silent, perhaps because they see themselves as succeeding to be the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Others are fearful of being reprimanded and rebuked.”
She continued: “I think my colleagues do a really fantastic job at the local level. Let's face it, being a bishop or being a leader in public life is challenging and not easy at times.”
In recent days, Bishop Ann publicised a letter sent to her by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, indicating their wish for the former Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, to return to preaching. Bishop Ann had asked him to step back from ministry in 2023, after it was revealed that Sentamu himself had also failed to report abuse.
She described the letter as using “coercive” language. “The letter addresses me by my first name,” she said. “I don't have a problem with that, but it's signed by both Archbishops using their full titles and a number of the phrases used in the letter, I think it was deliberately written so as to coerce me into a particular view. That is one that I would want to challenge.”
A spokesperson for the Archbishop of York this had not been his intention, and he was “saddened” to learn that that Bishop Ann had been caused “distress”.
Bishop Ann’s name has frequently cropped up as a potential successor to Justin Welby.
She also said that she believes further senior resignations should follow: “I think anybody who's named in the [Makin] report, who is shown to have failed in the highest standards expected in response to abuse and reporting of abuse… I think they ought to step down.”