Safeguarding failures: we've done enough talking

Dear Editor,

In the March issue of en, Jules Loveland thinks what churches need in regard to safeguarding is a conversation. “Now is the time for churches to have an urgent and honest conversation about the churches ability to protect people from harm, its culture, and how it is held responsible.”

For the Church of England this is not the case, because we already know the answers. The church has repeatedly demonstrated its inability to protect people from harm; demonstrated a culture that covers up safeguarding failures, protects abusers and ignores victims; and demonstrated that those in positions of leadership are not held responsible.

Further, the church continues to demonstrate these failings. The church commissioned a report from an independent expert, Professor Alexis Jay, but when the report’s recommendation was not what they wanted, the General Synod chose to ignore it and do something else. Many bishops have talked about the importance of listening to victims, but when victims say they want a completely independent safeguarding system they are ignored. And while Justin Welby reluctantly resigned, most of those who have been shown to have failed in their safeguarding responsibilities remain in post.

What is needed now is not yet more talk – with the associated delay. What is needed now is accepting the truth of the situation and taking effective action without further delay. Sadly the Church of England has failed to do this.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Taylor
By email