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Church of England: We Failed Sex Abuse Survivors

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The Church of England has published a damning report, An Abuse of Faith, that explains how some of its top leaders helped to hide the long-term sexual abuse of children by one of its former bishops.

The head of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, apologized to the victims of ex-bishop Peter Ball as the report came out.

"The Church colluded and concealed rather than seeking to help those who were brave enough to come forward," said Welby, "there are no excuses whatsoever for what took place and the systematic abuse of trust perpetrated by Peter Ball over decades."

Authorities initially arrested Bell in 1992 for suspected indecent assault and gave him a police caution. He retired as bishop of Gloucester but continued to enjoy access to children for years through work in churches and schools. He was not prosecuted until two decades later.

The report said that the head of the church at the time, George Carey, believed that Ball was "basically innocent" and paved the way for him to return to ministry.

The report details how Ball persuaded other church leaders to overlook his abusive behavior. He employed a variety of strategies including vilifying his accusers, claiming poor health and exaggerating his connections with the Royal family.

The report notes that many of Ball's victims were adults but cites "clear accounts of him sexually abusing schoolboys." The investigators said that many were in the midst of exploring their faith. "His betrayal of both their personal commitment to him and their unfolding relationship with religious faith cannot but have caused enduring harm for some of them," stated the report.

Some of Ball's victims said that he encouraged them to engage in abusive "spiritual exercises" like naked praying and cold showers. One of his victims, Neil Todd, eventually took his own life after working for years to rise above his abusive past.

Archbishop Welby ordered the report after Ball was convicted and imprisoned in 2015 for indecent assaults against teenagers and young men from the 1970s to the 1990s as well as misconduct in public office.

Bell, 85, admitted to abusing 18 young men. He was released after serving 16 months.

The report, compiled by social worker Moira Gibb, concludes with recommendations for the church, ranging from support for survivors to establishing guidance for future reports of abuse. 

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