Stephen Cottrell, the incoming archbishop, is set to emphasize in his Christmas sermon the essential need for the Church of England to demonstrate more substantive change, as recent scandals have highlighted the inadequacies in its responses to abuse allegations. He argues that the church must move beyond mere words of apology and into actionable repentance, kneeling in humility before God to seek genuine transformation in its treatment of victims and accountability structures.
With detailed references to the Makin report regarding past abuses, Cottrell is grappling with significant scrutiny. He acknowledges the failure to adequately address the allegations against John Smyth and admits that justice may have been more forthcoming had earlier actions been taken. This admission reveals the ongoing repercussions of institutional neglect and the urgent need for reform within the Church’s hierarchical response to abuse allegations.
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