Catholic Church Orders Secret Sex Inquiry into Philandering Bishop Kieran Conry

By John Bingham
The Telegraph
October 16, 2014

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11167264/Catholic-Church-orders-secret-sex-inquiry-into-philandering-bishop-Kieran-Conry.html

Church orders independent inquiry behind closed doors to examine whether Bishop Kieran Conry, the former Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, took advantage of ‘vulnerable’ women

The Roman Catholic Church has ordered a secret inquiry into whether the former Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, who resigned over an adulterous affair, took advantage of “vulnerable” women.

An independent investigator has been called in to examine whether the allegations against Bishop Kieran Conry, the Church’s former head of outreach, have “safeguarding” implications.

It is understood the inquiry will take between three and six months but even the name of the investigator is to be kept secret.

Although the Bishop, who is current undergoing a period of “prayer and reflection”, will be allowed to see the findings, the report itself will also never be published.

And anyone wishing to raise fresh concerns about the bishop must log a complaint with the Church first before it can be passed on.

The Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith, has been appointed by Pope Francis as apostolic administrator to oversee the running of the diocese following Bishop Conry’s resignation last month.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Southwark said the independent investigation would look into whether any of allegations involved “potentially vulnerable female adults”.

He said that the investigation was part of the Church’s safeguarding procedures and were triggered because of the sexual nature of the claims surrounding the bishop.

Bishop Conry resigned his see last month, admitting he had broken his vow of celibacy, as details of his close friendships with women began to emerge.

He has admitted to having an affair with a woman six years ago, but denies any physical relationship with Olivia Hodgkinson, whose husband, Simon, is now compiling a formal complaint to the Papal Nuncio about the case.

Mr Hodgkinson’s lawyers claim they have established that Bishop Conry has been intimately involved with a total of four women since 2001.

When he stepped down, Bishop Conry assured churchgoers that his actions were “not illegal and did not involve minors”.

The spokesman said it was standard procedure in such cases to establish “whether there is any potential vulnerability”.

Details of the of the inquiry were first disclosed by The Tablet.