BishopAccountability.org
	Investigation into Roman Catholic Monk Sex Abuse Claim Is Dropped This is Somerset January 31, 2011 http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Investigation-Roman-Catholic-monk-sex-abuse-claim-dropped-Avon-Somerset-police/article-3163338-detail/article.html A prominent Roman Catholic monk who regularly appeared on Radio 4’s Today programme may soon return to his parish after Avon and Somerset police dropped an inquiry into an alleged sex offence. Dom Antony Sutch resigned as a contributor to Thought For The Day and withdrew from his parish last November after a complaint about his conduct while he was headmaster of a Catholic school in Somerset. The Benedictine monk, who was believed to be a spiritual mentor to the late Princess of Wales and who preached at the marriage of the daughter of the Duchess of Cornwall, is now reported to be ‘on retreat’ at an undisclosed location. He is one of four monks investigated by police in recent months over historic allegations connected to Downside School in Somerset, which charges boarders more than ?25,000 a year. While Avon and Somerset Police have decided to take no further action against Dom Antony, the Mail on Sunday reports he still faces an internal church inquiry. The newspaper reported police sources saying they had been investigating accusations he inappropriately touched a young person aged over 16 about 14 years ago, when he was headmaster. It is understood the claim was made by a third party and the alleged victim did not wish to make a complaint. At the time when the incident was alleged to have happened such behaviour was not a criminal offence. The Sexual Offences Act 2000 made it illegal for a person to have sexual relations with anyone aged under 18 while in a position of trust over them.
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