Editing Church of England (section)

==Sex abuse==
{{See also|Anglican Communion sexual abuse cases}}
The 2020 report from the [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse]] found several cases of sexual abuse within the Church of England, and concluded that the Church did not protect children from sexual abuse, and allowed abusers to hide.<ref name="IICSA 2020">{{cite web |last1=Jay |first1=Alexis |last2=Evans |first2=Malcolm |last3=Frank |first3=Ivor |last4=Sharpling |first4=Drusilla |date=October 2020 |title=The Anglican Church Investigation Report |url=https://www.iicsa.org.uk/publications/investigation/anglican-church |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009100138/https://www.iicsa.org.uk/publications/investigation/anglican-church |archive-date=9 October 2020 |access-date=10 July 2021 |website=iicsa.org.uk |publisher=[[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse|Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)]]}}</ref><ref name="religionmediacentre-1">{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=9 October 2019 |title=Sex Abuse in UK Christian Churches |url=https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/factsheets/sex-abuse-in-christian-churches-in-the-uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024044800/https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/factsheets/sex-abuse-in-christian-churches-in-the-uk/ |archive-date=24 October 2019 |access-date=10 July 2021 |website=religionmediacentre.org.uk |publisher=Religion Media Centre |location=[[London]]}}</ref><ref name="religionmediacentre-2">{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=4 October 2020 |title=Abuse and the Church of England – Timeline |url=https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/factsheets/abuse-and-the-church-of-england-timeline/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130231554/https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/factsheets/abuse-and-the-church-of-england-timeline/ |archive-date=30 November 2020 |access-date=10 July 2021 |website=religionmediacentre.org.uk |publisher=Religion Media Centre |location=[[London]]}}</ref> The Church spent more effort defending alleged abusers than supporting victims or protecting children and young people.<ref name="IICSA 2020" /> Allegations were not taken seriously, and in some cases clergymen were ordained even with a history of child sex abuse.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 October 2020 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54433295 |title=Church of England failures 'allowed child sexual abusers to hide' |work=[[BBC News]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006112518/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54433295 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref> Bishop [[Peter Ball (bishop)|Peter Ball]] was convicted in October 2015 on several charges of [[indecent assault]] against young adult men.<ref name="religionmediacentre-1" /><ref name="religionmediacentre-2" /><ref name="sentence2015">{{cite news |last=Laville |first=Sandra |date=7 October 2015 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/07/bishop-peter-ball-escaped-charges-mps-royal-family-intervened-court |title=Bishop escaped abuse charges after MPs and a royal backed him, court told |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=[[London]] |eissn=1756-3224 |issn=0261-3077 |oclc=60623878 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013002015/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/07/bishop-peter-ball-escaped-charges-mps-royal-family-intervened-court |archive-date=13 October 2015 |access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

In June 2023, the [[Archbishops' Council]] dismissed the three board members of the Independent Safeguarding Board, which was set up in 2021 "to hold the Church to account, publicly if needs be, for any failings which are preventing good safeguarding from happening". A statement issued by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York referred to there being "no prospect of resolving the disagreement and that it is getting in the way of the vital work of serving victims and survivors". [[Jasvinder Sanghera]] and Steve Reeves, the two independent members of the board, had complained about interference with their work by the Church.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Aleem|last1=Maqbool|first2=Steve|last2=Swann|title=21 June 2023 Church of England sacks independent abuse panel |work=BBC News |date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65977524 |access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> The Bishop of Birkenhead, [[Julie Conalty]], speaking to [[BBC Radio 4]] in connection with the dismissals, said: "I think culturally we are resistant as a church to accountability, to criticism. And therefore I don't entirely trust the church, even though I'm a key part of it and a leader within it, because I see the way the wind blows is always in a particular direction."<ref>{{cite news |first1=Steve|last1=Swann|first2=Richard|last2=Galpin|title=22 June 2023 'Church seems less safe' says bishop after abuse panel sacked |work=BBC News |date=22 June 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65990105 |access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref>

On 20 July 2023, it was announced that the archbishops of Canterbury and York had appointed [[Alexis Jay]] to provide proposals for an independent system of safeguarding for the Church of England.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherwood |first1=Harriet |title=Alexis Jay warns she will quit C of E safeguarding role if there is interference|date=20 July 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/20/alexis-jay-warns-will-quit-c-of-e-safeguarding-role-interference |website=The Guardian|access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref>

In February 2025, the General Synod voted not to make safeguarding the responsibiity of an independent body, to the dismay of many.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Cathy |date=2025-02-16 |title=The CofE is at a crossroads. A radical solution could be its saviour |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/7ea274e4-ff03-482b-be88-72811cd320d9 |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=[[The Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2025, the Church of England announced it would take forward the clergy disciplinary measure process against 10 clergy, following the Makin Review of the serial abuser [[John Smyth (barrister)|John Smyth]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Maqbool |first1=Aleem |last2=Swann |first2=Steve |date=2025-02-25 |title=Ten Church of England clergy facing disciplinary action over abuse report |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5dyyq6v86o |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=}}</ref>