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Archbishop of York Cleared in Abuse Priest Case

Is the Church of England escaping its stained past toward a bright future or continuing down the failed path of bureaucratic corruption?

Published 1 day ago

Archbishop of York Cleared in Abuse Priest Case

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Above: Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell hugs Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally at her confirmation in London on Jan. 28, 2026. Image credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Stephen Cottrell has acknowledged past safeguarding failures, offered a sincere apology, and shown a willingness to learn. Yet an independent judge found no case to answer, confirming his actions were guided by risk management and professional advice. With Mullally now leading and strong support beside her, the Church of England is moving forward on a safer, hopeful path.

The Archbishop of York Anglican Communion News Service

Narrative B

Despite hopeful rhetoric, the Church of England’s abuse crisis is far from over. Scandals like Smyth and Pilavachi reveal deep cultural failures, with institutions seemingly “rewarded” despite recent harms. Mullally’s leadership risks continuing this pattern, prioritizing bureaucracy and misplaced activism over faith, accountability and rebuilding trust.

The Telegraph The Times

Limited Coverage

This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.