Complaint against incoming archbishop of Canterbury dismissed

"But on Thursday, Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, who was asked to review Mullally's handling of the complaint, said he had decided to take no further action against her. The complainant, a man known as Survivor N, has a right to ask for the decision to be reviewed. The decision to appoint Cottrell to assess the complaint prompted criticism within the church, because he had faced calls to resign last year over his handling of a separate case."

"The diocese of London said proper processes had been followed and that there was no outstanding complaint against Mullally. Officials at Lambeth Palace, the official London residence of the archbishop of Canterbury, said a complaint about Mullally's handling of the allegation had been made in 2020 but had not been followed up because of administrative errors and an incorrect assumption about the individual's wishes."

"Survivor N said the abuse started in 2014 and was reported to the diocese of London. Mullally became bishop of London in 2018. N claimed that after he made a formal complaint in 2019 about the alleged abuse, Mullally breached a church disciplinary code by sending a confidential email about the allegation to the priest concerned. N told the news site Premier Christian Radio that the diocese of London's and Mullally's handling of the complaint had left him feeling suicidal."

Dame Sarah Mullally is due to become archbishop of Canterbury on 28 January after Justin Welby resigned over a safeguarding scandal. She faced an accusation of mishandling a complaint about a London priest. Stephen Cottrell, archbishop of York, reviewed the complaint and on 7 January decided to take no further action. The complainant, Survivor N, may request a review. The appointment of Cottrell drew criticism because of his prior handling of another case. Survivor N says the abuse began in 2014, a formal complaint was made in 2019 alleging a confidential email was sent to the priest, and the handling left him suicidal. Lambeth Palace said a 2020 complaint was not followed up due to administrative errors and assumptions about the individual's wishes, while the diocese of London said proper processes were followed and there was no outstanding complaint.

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