Archbishop of York Faces Criticism Over Christmas Sermon and Abuse Scandal Handling

Stephen Cottrell calls for Church reform and prioritizing victims, but faces backlash over past decisions and credibility concerns.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell emphasized the need for the Church of England to embrace reform, repentance, and prioritizing victims of abuse during his Christmas sermon at York Minster.
The sermon comes as Cottrell prepares to take on temporary leadership of the Church of England following Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby's resignation.
Cottrell has faced calls to resign over his handling of a sexual abuse case involving former priest David Tudor, who was reappointed under his oversight as bishop of Chelmsford despite past allegations.
Victims and some Church leaders, including the Bishops of Newcastle and Gloucester, have questioned Cottrell's credibility and labeled his sermon as 'empty words.'
The Church of England continues to face scrutiny over its handling of abuse scandals, with calls for greater accountability and meaningful action to address systemic failures.