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Ecclesiastical shame

SURVIVOR INITIATIVE

One of the cruellest aspects of re-abuse for many survivors has been experienced within the civil claims system and the ugly collusion between the Church’s insurance company, Ecclesiastical Insurance (EIO/EIG), and the law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer (BLM Law).  Update: 21st July 2022: BLM Law have merged with, and are now known as Clyde & Co.

The links below detail harrowing stories of survivors being thrown into an adversarial ‘horse trade’, and reveal derisory compensation, the use of callous language regarding survivors, misleading a public inquiry (IICSA), ‘hired gun’ medical experts including a former Broadmoor psychiatrist, the practice of ‘desktopping’, use of bogus arguments to belittle the impact and trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse, and other unethical practices. The links also evidence disturbing complicity between the Church’s hierarchy and its insurers who have long been a major ‘cash cow’ for the CofE.

The entries below are listed in chronological order, to follow the timeline from the first correspondence (top) to last correspondence (bottom).

An abuse survivor’s tale

Dec 11, 2015

Church Times https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2015/11-december/comment/opinion/church-litigation-means-my-ordeal-continues

“Virtuous Circle” – Conflicts of interest

Jun 10, 2019

Twitter CoE has turned a blind eye to massive conflict of interests in their insurer.. Look at senior clerics and prep school headmasters (+ their governorships) on board of insurer over the years.https://twitter.com/seaofcomplicity/status/1138384913088991232

IICSA Ecclesiastical Insurance recall

Jul 12, 2019

"Was your evidence to this Inquiry last week sufficiently full and frank?" asked 3 times. David Bonehill (Claims Director) John Titchener (Compliance Director) Both senior directors of Ecclesiastical Insurance have since taken early retirement. https://youtu.be/sedk9P5PJig