Abuse Survivor Advocate Calls for Archbishop of York’s Resignation

A prominent advocate for survivors of sexual abuse has stated that Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, ought to step down. This recommendation comes in the wake of the resignation of Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, last week, following a review that determined “he could and should have” reported a prolific paedophile to law enforcement. Dame Jasvinder Sanghera alleged that Mr. Cottrell had disregarded “separate complaints” concerning other individuals accused of abuse, an accusation he vehemently denied. She articulated: “Anybody in a senior leadership position has to have trust and transparency, and you certainly need to have the trust and confidence of victims and survivors harmed by members of the clergy.” Speaking to BBC Radio York, she added: “It’s not just my call. This is call of many individuals who have been harmed by members of the clergy.” Dame Jasvinder served as a survivor advocate on the Church of England’s Independent Safeguarding Board until the panel’s dismissal in June 2023. The church stated at the time that the decision was made because relations between board members and bishops had “broken down.” The Church of England stated that Mr. Cottrell has consistently treated safeguarding with utmost seriousness, particularly his dedication to victims and survivors. The church conveyed: “He commends Dame Jasvinder’s personal work in this important area. But, it is not true to say that these victims and survivors have been ‘ignored’.“He believes the future of church safeguarding needs independent structures and scrutiny while ensuring that it also remains everyone’s responsibility, as highlighted in the recent Makin review.” The resignation of Mr. Welby occurred after a report concluded that he “could and should” have reported the abuse of boys and young men perpetrated by John Smyth to the police in 2013. Smyth faced accusations of assaulting dozens of boys, including some encountered at Christian camps, within the UK during the 1970s and 1980s. The Archbishop of York holds the position of the second most senior bishop in the nation, ranking after the Archbishop of Canterbury. Mr. Cottrell has occupied this role since July 2020, with responsibility for dioceses throughout the north of England.