A legal approach to the treatment of evidence

A recently-dismissed complaint of a priest’s alleged improper sexual relationship has wider implications on how the Church currently conducts investigations in this and related areas; it is also of relevance to the issue of “spiritual abuse” about which we posted in relation to a priest in the Oxford diocese. In December 2017, the Church of England reported the findings of the Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Leicester in the matter of a complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 against The Reverend Timothy Blewett. The hearing took place on 23 and 24 March 2017 but the determination has only recently been posted on the Church’s website. The complaint against Mr Blewett was dismissed. Continue reading →