UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News
The naming of a bishop as an alleged paedophile has been criticised by a group of lawyers, academics, politicians and senior Church figures.
The Church of England settled a civil claim in October made by a woman who says she was abused by the late Rt Rev George Bell in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
The Church said its “overriding goal” had been to search out the truth.
But defenders of Bishop Bell say its inquiries were “inadequate”.
The bishop’s supporters, known as the George Bell Group, say the inquiry had not provided details of any corroboration to enable the complainant’s story to be judged.
‘Much admired’ bishop
The BBC’s religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt said supporters of the late bishop had been angered by the way the Church dealt with the historical allegation of sexual abuse against a man who was no longer alive to defend his reputation.
In a statement, the George Bell Group says Bishop Bell – Bishop of Chichester from 1929 until his death in 1958 – was “much admired” and noted for being one of the first to speak out in the 1930s against the dangers Adolf Hitler posed.
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