Head of Catholic order failed to tell police of school sex abuse

Abbot ‘did not know’ if findings at Benedictine school were relevant, national inquiry told

The head of one of the country’s most powerful Catholic orders was made aware of sex abuse allegations dating back to the 1970s at one of its schools but did not alert the authorities – contrary to the recommendations of a church commission on which he sat.

The wide-ranging Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse has been shown a handwritten document compiled by Abbot Richard Yeo, who as president of the Benedictines conducted an inquiry at St Benedict’s School in Ealing, west London, in June 2010 following reports that there had been widespread abuse of pupils by teachers and monks.

Father David Pearce would line the boys up naked after swimming to feel them in order to check they were dry

Related: Credibility of Catholic church at stake in sexual abuse summit

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2STuicf