CoE apology for child abuse

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said that there needs to be "a complete change of culture and behaviour" in the Church.

His comments came as the Church of England formally apologised for past clerical sex abuse.

"We cannot in 20 years be finding ourselves having this same debate and saying 'well we didn't quite understand then".

"In addition, there is a profound theological point. We are not doing all this - we are not seeking to say how devastatingly, appallingly, atrociously sorry we are for the great failures there have been, for our own sakes, for our own flourishing, for the protection of the Church.

"We are doing this because we are called to live in the justice of God and we will each answer to him for our failures in this area", he added.

The Church of England's ruling General Synod has given its backing for a programme of changes designed to tighten up child protection procedures and prevent further scandals.

It comes after a formal apology for past child abuse.

They include:

• Removing the 12-month limit for bringing complaints under the Clergy Discipline Measure for complaints alleging sexual abuse.

• Clergy who have been defrocked or suspended, or who have no licence or permission to officiate, would also be prevented from robing or wearing clerical vestments in church under the proposals.

The Church of England has formally apologised for historical clerical sex abuse.

The apology was backed unanimously by the General Synod with no abstentions and no votes against.

Two Church of England staff were attacked today during a high-profile General Synod service attended by archbishops of Canterbury and York.

A man was arrested on suspicion of assault after being restrained just yards from the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby and the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, as they processed in for the beginning of the Holy Communion service.

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