Church of England Priest Faces Additional Lifetime Ban for Historical Abuse
David Tudor, a former Church of England priest previously banned for life from ministry, has now received a second lifetime ban. This decision follows the upholding of a new complaint concerning Tudor’s sexual abuse of a minor in the 1980s.
The latest ruling by a Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Southwark comes after Tudor’s 2024 admission of sexual abuse claims by two women. The tribunal’s recent decision reinforces the existing ban on Tudor’s ministry involvement.
Reactions from the Diocese of Southwark and the Diocese of Chelmsford have been swift. Although Tudor’s offenses occurred during his tenure in Southwark, he returned to ministry in the Chelmsford diocese in 1997 after a suspension.
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, who served as Bishop of Chelmsford starting in 2010, faced scrutiny over his handling of the case. Cottrell expressed his regret at being unable to act against Tudor without new evidence. While a tribunal cleared him of misconduct, it acknowledged procedural errors in managing the case.
The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, commented, “It takes extraordinary courage to speak out and bring forward a complaint, and so I am grateful to the woman who shared her experience of David Tudor’s harmful actions, and I apologise unreservedly for the pain and trauma he has caused.”
Similarly, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, extended her apologies, stating, “The woman who brought this complaint showed extraordinary courage in doing so. I want to repeat my thanks to her and to all those who have come forward to report David Tudor’s abuse.”
Dr. Francis-Dehqani also highlighted ongoing support for an Independent Review of the David Tudor case. This review is a collaborative effort by the National Safeguarding Team and the dioceses involved.
If you or someone you know is affected by this news, the Safe Spaces helpline is available at 0300 303 1056 or visit the Safe Spaces Website. You can also contact the diocesan safeguarding team or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
