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UK News

Clergy call for future safeguarding to be done independently of Church

by Cara Bentley

As part of a three week inquiry, there have been calls by some for it to be investigated by a body outside of the church.

Reverend Rachel Mann, a vicar in Manchester, wrote on twitter: "Given the evidence of the on-going enquiry, the future of safeguarding in the C of E lies in an independent body, doesn't it? If not, do tell my why."

Bishop Alan Wilson, the Bishop of Buckingham, replied: "Yes. A terrible week with evidence of religious exceptionalism, stupidity, incompetence, lying, dumping responsibility at every level including the highest, and folie de grandeur. Bishops must be acccountable. This means not just to themselves. End of story."

During the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), one person who gave evidence was asked how the church can deal with the abuse of power and replied: "It needs to stop squelching discussion, it has a way of crushing people when they try to speak and it needs to treat people as adults not children."

The C of E's current safeguarding team is in-house.

The Archbishop of Cantebury will give evidence on Wednesday and the Bishop opf Manchester, David Walker on Monday.

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