The Church of England has voted to increase oversight of safeguarding measures – but stopped short of creating an independent body.
Members of the General Synod, the Church’s parliament, voted for the new measures for handling abuse allegations as it tries to restore trust among survivors after multiple scandals.
The five-day meeting of the Synod is the first since Justin Welby resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury amid condemnation over safeguarding failures.
He stood down in November after a report said he could and should have done more in the case of paedophile John Smyth – who for years sexually and physically abused more than 120 boys and young men.
The Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalath, has also just announced his retirement after accusations of sexual assault and harassment were made by two women – one a bishop. He denies any wrongdoing.
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