The released audit document is dated March 2022. We believe it was sent to Lambeth Palace in May of last year. We wonder why it has taken ten months to publish, and whether SCIE has been under pressure to water the original down. But there can be no doubt that the final version is excoriating. Paragraphs of “negative experience” are numerous and it is clear that the gulf between the Archbishop’s public pronouncements and survivors’ experience of his office is a chasm.
House of Survivors reflects that if this were a report on a school, Lambeth Palace would be put into special measures. Where is the accountability?
Updates / Responses to the Audit
Lambeth Palace publishes its Independent Safeguarding Audit from SCIE
28 Feb 2023 – Lambeth Palace
https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/lambeth-palace-publishes-its-independent-safeguarding-audit-scie
Lambeth Palace abuse report: ‘Archbishop should clarify role as moral leader’
28 Feb 2023 – The Times
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lambeth-palace-safeguarding-victims-abuse-justin-welby-2023-vv2wllptb
Abuse survivors unhappy with their treatment by Lambeth Palace, audit finds
28 Feb 2023 – Church Times
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-march/news/uk/abuse-survivors-unhappy-with-their-treatment-by-lambeth-palace-audit-finds
Welby’s attempts to create safe CofE culture ‘undermined’ through lack of consistency says audit
28 Feb 2023 – Premier Christian News
https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/welby-s-attempts-to-create-safe-c-ofe-culture-undermined-through-lack-of-consistency-says-audit
Lambeth Palace safeguarding audit published
28 Feb 2023 – Thinking Anglicans
https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/lambeth-palace-safeguarding-audit-published/
Unbelievable!
28 Feb 2023 – Anglican Futures
https://www.anglicanfutures.org/post/unbelievable
Response to SCIE Report on safeguarding practices into Lambeth Palace
2 Mar 2023 – Independent Safeguarding Board
https://independent-safeguarding.org/response-to-scie-report-on-safeguarding-practices-into-lambeth-palace-by-jasvinder-sanghera-cbe-survivor-advocate-2nd-march-2023/
Trying to be heard. How Lambeth Palace has let down the Abused in their search for Justice
3 Mar 2023 – Surviving Church
https://survivingchurch.org/2023/03/03/trying-to-be-heard-how-lambeth-palace-has-let-down-the-abused-in-their-search-for-justice/
Archbishops’ aide criticised for handling of Church of England sex abuse allegations
4 Mar 2023 – The Times
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/archbishops-aide-criticised-for-handling-of-church-of-england-sex-abuse-allegations-cmjgkrrgr
Abuse survivors criticise Bishop Urquhart’s appointment as Bishop to the Archbishops
9 Mar 2023 – Church Times
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/10-march/news/uk/abuse-survivors-criticise-bishop-urquhart-s-appointment-as-bishop-to-the-archbishops
Safeguarding not a responsibility of the Bishop to the Archbishops, Lambeth says
10 Mar 2023 – Church Times
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/17-march/news/uk/safeguarding-not-a-responsibility-of-the-bishop-to-the-archbishops-lambeth-says