By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-11-22 13:53:13 | Updated at 2024-11-22 19:59:30
6 hours ago
Four priests, including a former chaplain to the late Queen, have had their permission to serve suspended following the same report that led to Justin Welby's resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Diocese of London has withdrawn permission to officiate from three priests, whilst the Diocese of Gloucester has suspended another, pending investigation into their alleged knowledge of abuse carried out by John Smyth.
The Christian barrister is believed to have beaten as many as 130 boys over several decades.
The suspensions follow recommendations that those criticised in the Makin report should step back from ministry during investigations.
The suspended priests include Hugh Palmer, who served as chaplain to Queen Elizabeth from 2012 until 2020.
Sue Colman, who along with her husband Sir Jamie Colman - heir to the Colman's mustard dynasty - was asked to step back from roles at a Hampshire church last week.
Four priests have had their permission to serve suspended following the same report that led to Justin Welby's resignation
PA
Rico Tice, who previously served at All Souls, Langham Place in London until leaving last year, had been granted permission to officiate by the Diocese of London.
Rev Nick Stott, a priest from Cheltenham, has had his permission to officiate suspended by the Diocese of Gloucester.
The suspensions will remain in place while the Church investigates information contained within the Makin report.
The Makin report alleges Palmer visited a victim in 1982, telling them he was "extremely sympathetic to abuse suffered at hands of John Smyth."
The report suggests Sue Colman was aware of allegations before her ordination, with her husband reportedly writing in 1990 about being told of the abuse matters.
According to the report, Tice was informed of the abuse in 1987, with someone allegedly detailing "the scale and the nature of the abuse."
Stott was allegedly advised against joining Smyth in Zimbabwe but went anyway, reportedly witnessing "surprising behaviour" at camps. He said he was told of an issue with Smyth but received no details.
Palmer and the Colmans have not responded to comment requests.
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, told Channel 4 News that anyone named in the report should resign or "at the very least, to start off with, step back from whatever public ministry they occupy pending an independent investigation."
Rico Tice said his "heart aches" for Smyth's victims, explaining: "As a university student in the spring of 1987, I was told that boys at Iwerne camps had been beaten. At that time I was not aware of the dreadful severity of those beatings."
He added that he had made his concerns known and reported what he knew to senior people at the Iwerne camp "more than once."
Speaking for the first time since his report's publication, Keith Makin said: "I'm very pleased with the impact it is having."
When asked about potential cover-ups mentioned in his report, Makin stated: "I do think that there needs to be consideration given as to whether police action needs to be taken. I actually don't know the answer to that."
Stott told the Makin report he had felt it wasn't his place to investigate rumours, though he now wishes he had done so.
He added he was confident any matters would have been investigated and dealt with by people he trusted.
