Church must ‘kneel in penitence’, Archbishop of York to say in Christmas sermon
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The Archbishop of York is expected to highlight the need for actions over words as he delivers a Christmas Day sermon at a challenging time during which the Church of England faces criticism over failures in its handling of various abuse scandals. Stephen 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 himself also faced calls to resign.
Earlier this week, Mr Cottrell acknowledged things “could have been handled differently” after revelations that a priest at the centre of a sexual abuse case was twice reappointed under him while he was serving as 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.
Victims of the priest have branded Mr Cottrell’s response to the case “insulting and upsetting” and suggested that his resignation or him being forced out of his leading role in the Church was “inevitable”. Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley questioned how Mr Cottrell could have any credibility, and Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek declined to publicly back him.
With Mr Welby out of public view this Christmas and not delivering the December 25 sermon, focus has shifted to Mr Cottrell’s words from York Minster. He is expected to say the Church must “kneel in penitence and adoration” this Christmas and “be changed”.
