Archbishop of York Under Fire: Allegations of ‘Whitewashing’ Church Abuse Audit

The Archbishop of York, Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, is facing mounting accusations of neglecting to ensure the accurate reporting of abuse cases across the Church of England, prompting concerns of a “presentational whitewash” in the Church’s handling of historic abuse allegations.

This criticism stems from the recent Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2), an extensive audit of abuse allegations spanning decades. Conducted between 2019 and 2022, the review analyzed over 75,000 files across the Church’s 42 dioceses and two provinces. It uncovered 383 new cases but has been criticized for omitting critical data on allegations against deceased clergy.

Survivors and advocates argue that this omission was deliberate and undermines the Church’s commitment to transparency. Despite repeated calls from survivors to include allegations involving late clergy—referred to as Dead Clergy Reviews (DCRs)—the Archbishops of York and Canterbury did not mandate dioceses to include these cases in their submissions.

“Diluting Transparency”: Survivor’s Plea Ignored

One survivor, Gilo, who has persistently advocated for greater transparency, has accused Archbishop Cottrell of downplaying the scale of abuse. Correspondence seen by Premier reveals Gilo raised concerns in 2020, citing a document from the Diocese of York that referenced 110 possible abuse cases, including 50 linked to deceased clergy.

In subsequent letters, Gilo implored Archbishop Cottrell to ensure a robust and transparent review, stating:

“Survivors cannot easily come forward if the Church is still hiding the past… PCR2 needs to enable everyone to join up the dots and see how widespread awareness of abuse was in the Church.”

He warned that any suppression of data would irreparably damage the Church’s reputation, adding, “If the Church hides anything at this stage, then it deserves to take another reputational hit.”

Despite these appeals, dioceses were not instructed to include allegations against late clergy. This has fueled allegations that senior figures sought to limit the review’s findings to minimize institutional responsibility.

Allegations Unveiled: Harrowing Details Ignored

A document from the Diocese of York, reviewed by Premier, revealed deeply troubling allegations against deceased clergy, including incidents of sexual abuse involving minors. Specific accusations included “causing or inciting a male under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity” and “interfering with 10-year-old girls.”

These revelations have reignited calls for greater accountability among the Church’s leadership. Critics argue that excluding DCRs not only erodes trust but also perpetuates a culture of secrecy within the institution.

Pressure Mounts Amid Resignations

This controversy comes during a tumultuous week for the Church of England, with Archbishop Justin Welby facing calls for resignation over his handling of abuse allegations involving the late John Smyth. The spotlight now turns to Archbishop Cottrell, who is under increasing pressure to address what survivors describe as his failure to ensure “qualitative transparency.”

Gilo has publicly criticized the Archbishop’s leadership, stating that he has “serious questions to answer” about his role in overseeing the PCR2 review.

Church at a Crossroads

The Church of England has long grappled with its legacy of abuse scandals, and the allegations against its senior leaders represent yet another critical test of its commitment to reform. Survivors and advocates insist that full transparency is non-negotiable for the Church to rebuild trust and credibility.

Premier has reached out to the Archbishop of York for a response, but at the time of writing, no statement has been issued.

As the Church faces mounting public and internal pressure, this unfolding crisis underscores the urgent need for systemic change to ensure accountability, justice for survivors, and an unflinching commitment to the truth.