A recent disclosure sheds light on an allegation of sexual abuse against a priest who later ascended to the rank of bishop. It appears that the church was made aware of this accusation 17 years before it was reported to the authorities. Unfortunately, the alleged victim, who was reportedly under the age of 18 at the time of the incident in 1993, had passed away by the time the church notified the police in 2010. Consequently, the investigation into the alleged sexual assault could not proceed. The revelation came to the fore following the admission by the former bishop of Swansea and Brecon to five counts of indecent assault involving a child in a separate case.
The Church in Wales has initiated an independent review into the separate claim of Anthony Pierce’s “improper (and potentially criminal) behavior.” Despite acknowledging the timeframe of the allegation dating back to 1993, the unfortunate demise of the victim in 2010 hampered any further investigation by law enforcement. Pierce had served as bishop of Swansea and Brecon for nine years starting from 1999, and even received prestigious honors during his tenure. Following his resignation in 2008, he was later bestowed with accolades from Swansea University in 2011, a decision that is now under review by the institution.
The revelation of the sexual abuse allegation surfaced after Pierce admitted to historical counts of indecent assault on a male child under the age of 16 during his time as a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea. The subsequent Church investigation into these offenses revealed that some members were aware of an additional allegation against Pierce in 1993, though this information was not shared with the authorities until 2010.
An independent review, led by Gabrielle Higgins, aims to scrutinize the church’s handling of the second allegation, which dates back to around 1990. This investigation will also delve into the restoration and removal of Pierce’s permission to officiate between 2011 and 2016. Additionally, it will assess existing protocols for the appointment of archdeacons and bishops to determine the necessity of any revisions.
As calls for a broader review of historical allegations handled by the Church in Wales grow, legal and abuse specialists emphasize the importance of thoroughly addressing such cases.
Representing multiple civil clients against the Church in Wales for abuse by former vicar Stephen Brooks in Swansea during the 1980s and 1990s, a lawyer noted that the delay in reporting an allegation against Pierce in 1993 could indicate broader historical failings. She raised concerns about potential undisclosed misconduct, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation. The Church in Wales acknowledged initiating an internal investigation following the revelation of the offenses.
Child abuse lawyer David Greenwood, affiliated with charity MACSAS, which supports survivors of church sexual abuse, expressed reservations about the scope of the church’s review process. He criticized the limitations imposed on the review, including the selection of an internal reviewer and the exclusion of recent convictions. Greenwood stressed the importance of transparency to prevent any perception of cover-ups.
The Church in Wales defended its choice of an independent reviewer approved by its safeguarding committee and clarified that no clergy or bishops were involved in the selection process. They assured that the review’s terms could be expanded if needed, emphasizing their commitment to transparency and accountability. The Church encouraged individuals with concerns to come forward and pledged to learn from past mistakes to improve safeguarding measures.
Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes, highlighted the need for an independent body to oversee safeguarding in religious institutions, echoing recommendations from a national inquiry. She emphasized the absence of independent oversight in religious safeguarding as a critical gap. The Welsh government affirmed its commitment to enhancing safeguarding systems in alignment with recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
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