A former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, has resigned from the priesthood over allegations of failing to properly address child abuse cases.
A BBC investigation revealed that Carey supported David Tudor, a priest accused of assaulting teenage girls, in returning to ministry. Tudor had been banned by the church for five years in the 1980s due to the allegations, but Carey later “allowed him to return under supervision.”
In October, Tudor admitted to sexual misconduct and was dismissed from his role as a priest.
In his resignation letter dated December 4, Carey announced his decision to step down, marking the end of an active ministry that began in 1962.
The 89-year-old expressed gratitude for his wife, Eileen, highlighting her faithfulness and support throughout his career. The letter reads, “I wish to surrender my Permission to Officiate. I am in my ninetieth year now and have been in active ministry since 1962 when I was made Deacon and then Priested in 1963. It has been an honour to serve in the dioceses of London, Southwell, Durham, Bristol, Bath and Wells, Canterbury, and finally Oxford. I give thanks to God for his enduring faithfulness but want to recognise the remarkable contribution of Eileen, whose faithfulness and support has been outstanding.”
Carey’s resignation follows the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who stepped down in November over his handling of separate sexual abuse allegations.
