Shock in the Church: Bishop of Liverpool Steps Down Over Assault Claims
The Right Reverend John Perumbalath, the Bishop of Liverpool, has resigned following allegations of sexual assault and harassment. He has denied these claims, describing them as a “trial by media.”
The allegations involve an incident where Bishop Perumbalath is accused of groping and kissing a woman without her consent. He has stated that he is stepping down to prevent further harm to the Church and to focus on clearing his name.
Reports suggest that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was aware of the allegations before Bishop Perumbalath’s appointment in 2023.
The Church of England has faced criticism over its handling of sexual misconduct cases. In a separate incident, Archbishop Welby resigned two months ago after allegations that he failed to address abuse by John Smyth, who groomed and abused over 100 boys since the 1970s.