The Anglican Church of England must “to do penance”declared Wednesday, December 25 in his Christmas sermon the Archbishop of York, who must take temporary charge of this institution recently shaken by several cases of sexual assault.
Stephen Cottrell, the second highest dignitary in the Anglican Church, will take interim leadership of the Church of England on January 6, replacing Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The latter presented his resignation after the publication in mid-November of a report accusing him of having covered up an attacker who had attacked more than 130 children and young men over several decades.
A few weeks later, it was Stephen Cottrell’s turn to find himself in turmoil, accused of having delayed taking action against a priest, again in a child abuse case.
A call for “reform” of the Church
According to a BBC investigation, at least seven women claim to have been sexually assaulted by this priest, David Tudor.
In his sermon delivered on Wednesday at York Minster (north-east England) he declared that Christmas should be an opportunity for the institution of “to do penance”calling for her to “reform”.
“Don’t just talk about justice (…) or love. Show me “he said again. “We must put the needs of others first – those who are cold, hungry and homeless this Christmas”.