Bishop wants 'radical change' after abuse scandal

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Martin Seeley, said he had no "recollection" of asking a fellow reverend specifically about John Smyth QC

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has called for "radical change" following a report which documented a cover up of child abuse within the Church of England.

The Right Reverend Martin Seeley was referenced once within the report about John Smyth QC's abuse of more than 100 children and young men.

Bishop Seeley denied any wrongdoing and described Smyth's offending as "horrific".

In a digital newsletter sent to churchgoers, Bishop Seeley said the church "clearly must be deeply penitent and learn" from "failures of safeguarding".

He also addressed the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s decision to resign in light of the "gravity of the findings" within Keith Makin's review.

John Smyth QC abused more than 100 children and young men

"The Archbishop has taken responsibility for the failures of safeguarding and is deeply sorry for the horrific abuse inflicted by John Smyth," said Bishop Seeley.

"No words can undo the damage done to people's lives both by John Smyth and by the failure of individuals in the church and other institutions."

The report included an account by Reverend Rico Tice - that Bishop Seeley had asked about Smyth in an interview for the discernment process for ministry.

The report noted that the Suffolk bishop had no recollection of asking the question.

In his recent statement, he also pointed out that the discernment process was a series of one-to-one interviews with four different panel members across three days, governed by strict reporting protocols.

Bishop Seeley highlighted that he had served as a selection secretary for five years, and participated in about 40 selection conferences and would have used the same questions for each candidate.

'Truly horrified'

He said: "I do remember this selection conference and I am certain I would have remembered if I had been asked to deviate from the normal questions.

"I am also certain I would have reported any information I was given relating to a safeguarding concern.

"I standby in every detail what I said in the report that I have no recollection of this whatsoever, of asking such a question, or of being asked to ask such a question.

"I am truly horrified by the abuse Smyth perpetrated on young Christians and I support calls for the continued development of robust safeguarding processes."