Archbishop Cottrell Faces Resignation Calls Over Abuse Case

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has acknowledged that the handling of the abuse case involving David Tudor, a priest banned for life after admitting serious sexual abuse of two minors, 'could have been handled differently.' Tudor had previously been suspended in 1988 for sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl but returned to ministry in 1994. Cottrell faces mounting pressure to resign, especially as it emerged Tudor was reappointed to a senior role in the Diocese of Chelmsford during Cottrell's tenure as bishop. Cottrell stated that he acted within his authority and could not remove Tudor until new complaints arose in 2019, describing the situation he inherited as 'horrible and intolerable.' Despite his defenses, the situation has led to significant public scrutiny and disappointment over the church's handling of abuse allegations, with calls for accountability growing among church officials. He expressed regret for not taking earlier action and emphasized that the focus throughout was on regularly reviewing risks associated with Tudor.