The Archbishop of York John Sentamu is setting up an independent
inquiry into allegations that his predecessor covered up child abuse by a
senior priest in Manchester.
Dr Sentamu's office made the announcement on Saturday afternoon, hours after The Times reported
that Archbishop David Hope, now Lord Hope of Thornes, stood accused of
covering up allegations that a former dean of Manchester, Revd Robert
Waddington, who died in 2007, had abused choirboys and school pupils.
Lord Hope was made aware of the accusations against Mr Waddington,
who was once the cleric in overall charge of CofE schools, in 1999 and
again in 2003.
Lord Hope ordered internal investigations, interviewed
Waddington and revoked his right to conduct church services, but he did
not report concerns to police or child protection agencies, The Times reported following a joint investigation with The Australian newspaper in Sydney.
Lord Hope denied any cover-up, saying he had correctly followed CofE
child protection procedures in place at the time, which did not oblige
him to report the case to the authorities.
He said was concerned about Mr Waddington's health. "I didn't report
to the police. With hindsight, probably there ought to have been [a
report]. He was in such a fragile and frail state," Lord Hope said.