Archbishop of York’s Christmas Day sermon empty words, Bishop of Newcastle says
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The Bishop of Newcastle has criticised the Christmas Day sermon delivered by the Archbishop of York, describing his suggestion that the Church of England needs to change as “empty words”. Stephen Cottrell said the Church should “kneel in penitence” as it continues to face criticism over failures in its handling of various abuse scandals.
Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley posted on X after the service, saying: “The Archbishop of York says this today: ‘Right now, this Christmas, God’s Church itself needs to come again to the manger and strip off her finery and kneel in penitence and adoration. And be changed’.
“Empty words. I have no words more than that to describe their meaning.”. Mr Cottrell will effectively become temporary leader of the Church in England next month, in place of the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, but has also faced calls to resign.
Earlier this week Mr Cottrell acknowledged things “could have been handled differently”, after disclosures that a priest at the centre of a sexual abuse case was twice reappointed under him, while he was bishop of Chelmsford. But a spokeswoman for Mr Cottrell said no-one had advised him at the time that David Tudor should not continue as an area dean, and she added that even had he not continued in that role, it would not have meant he was removed as parish priest.
