By Mark Cowan
Birmingham Mail [United Kingdom]
January 23, 2006
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EDUCATION chiefs were due to meet this week to discuss the future of a parish priest who was arrested on suspicion of raping a child.
Honorary Canon, Father John Herve, was arrested after allegations of "rape and gross indecency with a person under 16" were made against him.
The Mail revealed on Saturday that the Church of England clergyman has been suspended from his duties by the Diocese of Birmingham, in a "neutral act" while the police investigation is conducted.
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Fr John is head of the board of governors at Ladypool Primary School where pervert teaching assistant Mark Smith was last week jailed for grooming a schoolgirl.
The board of governors at the primary school, next to Fr John's church St Agatha's, on Stratford Road, Sparkbrook, will decide later this week whether to remove or suspend him from his post as chairman.
A spokesman for Birmingham City Council's education department said: "Fr John Herve is currently the chair of governors at Ladypool Primary School.
"However, he has been informed that he should not visit any schools pending this police investigation.
"The LEA has no powers to remove or suspend a chair of governors, that can only be done by the governing body, and they are due to meet this week."
Fr John is currently on police bail after being arrested in the Highgate area of the city on January 11.
He declined to comment when approached by the Birmingham Mail on Friday. The Archdeacon of Birmingham, the Venerable Hayward Osborne, said: "The diocese of Birmingham is co-operating with the police and is following the appropriate protocols which have led to this suspension. I must emphasise that the suspension is a neutral act and does not imply guilt.
"During the suspension I shall be liaising with churchwardens of St Agatha's, Sparkbrook, St Alban's, Highgate and St Barnabas, Balsall Heath and I shall ensure that priestly and pastoral ministry of these churches continues.
"We very much hope that matters will be resolved as speedily as possible."
A police spokesman said a man in his 50s had been arrested in connection with "allegations of offences of a sexual nature, which are historical".
He added: "He has been bailed. We will be seeking Crown Prosecution Service advice as to which charges are appropriate, if there are to be any charges at all."
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