HomePress ReleasesCape Town apologizes for Desmond Tutu's failure to curb clergy sex abuse

Cape Town apologizes for Desmond Tutu’s failure to curb clergy sex abuse

Published on

spot_img

Statement by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba

The South African writer Ishtiyaq Shukri has written an open letter in which he responds to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s recent stepping down as an ambassador for Oxfam after a scandal around allegations of sexual misconduct. 
 
In the letter, Mr Shukri said he was the victim of sexual abuse by Anglican priests and accused Archbishop Desmond of never fully addressing what he claimed was “systematic and institutionalised sexual abuse happening in his own organisation”.
 
In response, Archbishop Tutu’s office issued the following statement:
 
“Archbishop Emeritus Tutu was mortified to learn this week of the suffering Ishtiyaq Shukri has described enduring at the hands of priests in Kimberley. Members of the clergy who break the law or behave immorally are as accountable for their actions – now, in the past and in the future – as any other member of God’s family. Archbishop Emeritus Tutu has retired from public life. He has the utmost faith in Archbishop Makgoba’s commitment to hold those clergy accused of wrongdoing to account, and support those whose trust in the clergy has been betrayed.”
 
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba issued this response:
 
The Synod of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) was shocked and distressed to hear a report on Mr Shukri’s situation at a meeting last month. 
 
His experiences were reported to the bishops while they were discussing the work of the Anglican Communion Safe Church Network, an international body on which our church is represented. The body was created as a result of what Anglican churches world-wide have acknowledged is “the tragic betrayal of trust by some clergy and church workers in Provinces and churches across the Communion, who have abused children and adults for whom they have had pastoral responsibility.”

Latest articles

Parliament’s culture of death and the Church’s troubling silence

IN THE 1980s, as a pre-med student at Trinity College Dublin, I attended a...

“Rise and Rave” at Cape Town cathedral sparks criticism

The dean of St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town has been criticized for allowing...

Assisted suicide backed: A dark day for the vulnerable

Just moments ago, MPs voted 314 to 291 in favour of the assisted suicide...

Motions and Elections submitted through Area Councils for the September synod of REACH – South Africa

Eastern Cape Area Council 1 election submitted. Election 1:  National Executive Resolution:  The Eastern Cape Area Council hereby...

MPs vote for death as assisted suicide bill passes through Commons

Kim Leadbeater’s bill passes by 23 votes This afternoon, the assisted suicide bill has passed...

More like this

Parliament’s culture of death and the Church’s troubling silence

IN THE 1980s, as a pre-med student at Trinity College Dublin, I attended a...

“Rise and Rave” at Cape Town cathedral sparks criticism

The dean of St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town has been criticized for allowing...

Assisted suicide backed: A dark day for the vulnerable

Just moments ago, MPs voted 314 to 291 in favour of the assisted suicide...