Church of England Bishop Faces Sexual Assault Allegations
The Rt Rev Dr John Perumbalath, Bishop of Liverpool, is facing serious allegations of sexual assault and harassment involving two women. One woman claims that Perumbalath kissed her without consent and groped her, while another alleges incidents of sexual harassment.
Perumbalath has categorically denied the allegations, asserting that the encounters occurred in public settings and were witnessed by others. He stated, “I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants,” and mentioned he has cooperated fully with the investigations by the National Safeguarding Team and local police, which ultimately took no action after reviewing the claims.
The accusations encompass incidents that allegedly took place between 2019 and 2023 while Perumbalath was serving in Essex, raising concerns about the Church of England's processes in handling such cases. Additionally, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, who is currently overseeing the Church, has been accused of covering up the allegations, as reports suggest he was aware of the claims prior to Perumbalath's appointment as Bishop of Liverpool.
The situation has sparked significant scrutiny regarding the accountability of the Church in dealing with allegations of misconduct.
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