Channel 4 News story: Bishop of Liverpool

Allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault against the Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, were broadcast on Channel Four News on the evening of Tuesday 28 January 2025. Subsequent comment included:

Comment

The Pastoral Letter noted:

“We understand that some of allegations against the Bishop of Liverpool have been investigated and found unsubstantiated by the National Safeguarding Team. We are aware the police in Essex have taken no action with regard to one allegation. However, we understand that an allegation of misconduct was not fully investigated, and we believe that in the interests of justice this should now happen”,

and the Church Times stated:

 “The Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, told Channel Four News: “We live in a world where we have proper processes, and we don’t just sack someone when there is an allegation.” She said that Archbishop Cottrell had instructed a barrister to look at the decisions that had been made and actions taken “’in order to see if anything has been missed and also to suggest further possible ways forward[…]’”.

The subsequent Statement from senior leadership of the Diocese of Liverpool reported that they has written to the Archbishop of York indicating their feelings that the position of the Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath is currently untenable.

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[*] The Pastoral Letter was signed by: Chair of the House of Laity; Chair of the House of Clergy; Dean of Liverpool; Archdeacon of Knowsley & Sefton; Archdeacon of Liverpool; and Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington.

Update, 3 February 2025 at 13:03. Events have moved away from the strict ambit of “law and religion”: Bishop Perumbalath announced his retirement and the Bishop of Warrington identified herself as the bishop who raised a complaint. A Statement  has also been issued by the Bishops of Norwich, Thetford and Lynn

Cite this article as: David Pocklington, "Channel 4 News story: Bishop of Liverpool" in Law & Religion UK, 29 January 2025, https://lawandreligionuk.com/2025/01/29/channel-4-news-story-bishop-of-liverpool/