'Amateur' and 'shameful': Church of England under intense scrutiny over abuse
The Church of England may have a tendency to make child victims responsible for sexual abuse rather than the perpetrators, an inquiry heard today.
The independent inquiry into child sex abuse began three weeks of public hearings into how the Anglican Church dealt with allegations of abuse today.
Fiona Scolding QC, lead counsel to the inquiry, pointed to a 'culture of excessive deference' towards senior clergy as she asked whether the Church's hierarchical structure fuels secrecy and a tendency to put the reputation of bishops and the Church above the interests of survivors....