The Archbishop of Canterbury responds to An Abuse of Faith: The Independent Peter Ball Review:
Abuse of Faith makes harrowing reading: the church colluded and concealed rather than seeking to help those who were brave enough to come forward. This is inexcusable and shocking behavior, and although Dame Moira notes that most of the events took place many years ago, and does not think that the church now would conduct itself in the ways described, we can never be complacent, we must learn lessons.
I fully endorse the recommendations in the report and will ensure that the House of Bishops addresses how we can implement these as soon as possible, working with the National Safeguarding Team. For the survivors who were brave enough to share their story and bring Peter Ball to justice, I once again offer an unreserved apology. There are no excuses whatsoever for what took place and the systemic abuse of trust perpetrated by Peter Ball over decades.
An Abuse of Faith by TheLivingChurchdocs on Scribd
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
