Former Bishop Anthony Pierce Jailed for Child Sex Abuse

Anthony Pierce, the former bishop of Swansea and Brecon, has been sentenced to four years and one month in prison for sexually abusing a boy over a five-year period while he was a parish priest. The abuse, which included indecent touching, occurred from 1985 to 1990, and the victim only reported it in 2023, after keeping it secret for decades. Although the Church in Wales received a separate allegation against Pierce in 1993, it failed to report it to the police until 2010, long after the alleged victim had died. Judge Catherine Richards criticized Pierce for exploiting his position of trust, and noted the profound impact of the abuse on the victim's life. The Church has announced an independent review into its handling of allegations against Pierce, as public outrage continues over its failures in safeguarding. This case is part of a troubling trend within the Church of England, which has faced criticism for its handling of sexual abuse allegations.