The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted he is powerless to stop a former vicar jailed for child sex offences from using the title 'Reverend'. Guy Bennett, who was a vicar in Oxted, Surrey, was sentenced in 1999 for indecently assaulting three girls.
Writing to another of Bennett's alleged victims, Justin Welby said Bennett had been disqualified from holding any office in the Church. Lucy Duckworth, who made a complaint of sexual abuse against Bennett to Surrey Police in 2008, had written to the archbishop about the matter.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby wrote in reply: 'Regrettably, although we can ban someone from ever officiating at worship and wearing robes for worship, or passing themselves off as a priest in good standing, we cannot prevent them from using the title "the reverend" or even wearing a clerical collar.' He added that anyone can wear such dress, providing they do not do so for illegal purposes.
Bennett, who was vicar of St Mary's parish church in Oxted, admitted indecently assaulting the girls between 1976 and 1988 and was jailed for nine months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. Ms Duckworth alleges she was sexually abused by Bennett when she was at school, but he was never prosecuted for that alleged abuse.
After receiving the archbishop's reply, Ms Duckworth said: 'It leaves me feeling bemused, baffled, angry, frustrated and absolutely shocked that this is happening.' The Church of England is contemplating making it an offence for clergy to robe in churches if they have been banned, but currently it remains acceptable for banned and convicted clergy to continue calling themselves Reverend.
