The case of the late Church of England Bishop George Bell shows that not all sexual abuse allegations against clergy are true

The case of the late Bishop George Bell shows that no one is safe from allegations of sexual abuse, no matter how false those allegations may be. Yes, some women do lie about such things. We can thank the "Me Too" movement for putting what may be the final nails in the coffin of relations between men and women. As reported by Olivia Rudgard of the London Daily Telegraph, April 22, 2018 (links in original):

A police investigation into former bishop of Chichester George Bell has been dropped amid criticism of the Archbishop of Canterbury for smearing his name.

Sussex Police told the Daily Telegraph that they were no longer investigating a new allegation which was referred to them earlier this year.

A spokesman said the the investigation "was completed in March 2018" and added "of course further police investigation or action is not possible as Bishop Bell died 60 years ago".

An independent review released last year by Lord Carlile found that Bishop Bell had been besmirched by the church in 2015 when officials released a statement formally apologising over allegations of abuse made by a woman who is now in her seventies.

It also paid out £16,800 to the woman, known as Carol, for the alleged sexual abuse over a period of four years, beginning when she was five years old.

In January this year the Church announced that it had received "fresh information" about Bell which it had passed on to the police.

At the time it refused to provide details such as the date of the alleged wrongdoing, whether the complainant is a man or a woman or is still alive.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has also been urged to retract a statement that there remains a "significant cloud" over the name of the popular bishop, who is recognised for speaking out against Nazi Germany and saving Jews fleeing the regime.

The Church was criticised for making the new investigation public, with Lord Carlile calling the decision "unwise, unnecessary and foolish".

The police statement suggests that their investigation closed more than a month ago without the public being told.

It is also not known whether Bishop Bell's niece and only surviving relative Barbara Whitley, 94, was informed.

In a statement the police force said: "On Tuesday 30 January this year we received information from the Church of England concerning an allegation made against the late Bishop George Bell.

"The information was assessed and a proportionate investigation has been carried out to clarify the circumstances.

"This was done thoroughly and sensitively, although of course further police investigation or action is not possible as Bishop Bell died 60 years ago.

"There are no current safeguarding issues.

"The matter is now closed as far as Sussex Police are concerned and the Church of England have been informed of this."

Andrew Chandler, Bell's biographer and founder of the George Bell Institute, said: "'In October 2015 the Church authorities were prepared to devastate the name of a dead man on the basis of a wholly discreditable process.

"In January 2018 they were ready to do so on the basis of no process at all. I imagine they regard this as progress.

"At all events, this statement reinforces a sense that the making of allegations is more important to the Church than the testing of them.

"It also shows how the church authorities are prepared to exploit the arts of publicity in their own interests."

Dr Ruth Hildebrandt Grayson, the daughter of Bishop Bell's friend Franz Hildebrandt, said: "I doubt there was any new information. I think it was probably a smokescreen or a stalling tactic.

"The Carlile report did not go their way and I think they were scrabbling around for anything more which could be found which would justify the way they have tried to blacken George Bell's name, and they have failed."

A spokeswoman for the Church of England said: "Fresh information was received regarding Bishop Bell following the publication of the Carlile Review in December.

"In January the National Safeguarding Team announced that it was commissioning an independent investigation into this information and we cannot make any further comment until the investigation is completed."

A representative for the Archbishop of Canterbury has also been approached for comment.

See also my post Nigerian "Apostle" Johnson Suleman is embroiled in a sex scandal--and then his accuser admits that she lied (April 4, 2017).