The Church of England is currently reviewing a complaint against Dame Sarah Mullally, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, regarding her handling of an abuse allegation. This development comes as Mullally prepares to assume her new role following the resignation of Justin Welby, who stepped down amid a safeguarding scandal.

Background and Allegations

Dame Sarah Mullally, who has served as the Bishop of London since 2018, is accused of improperly managing a complaint against a priest in London. The alleged victim, referred to as N, reported the abuse to the Diocese of London, claiming it began in 2014. N alleges that Mullally breached church disciplinary protocols by contacting the accused priest directly about the allegations.

Administrative Oversight

The complaint against Mullally was initially filed in 2020 but was not pursued due to administrative errors and assumptions about the complainant's wishes at Lambeth Palace. Church authorities have since acknowledged these oversights, with a spokesperson stating, "Due to administrative errors and an incorrect assumption about the individual’s wishes, the complaint was not taken forward or appropriately followed up."

Response and Next Steps

In response to the situation, Mullally expressed regret over the handling of the complaint, stating, "The alleged victim has been let down." She emphasized the need for strengthened processes to ensure timely and satisfactory responses to complaints. Church officials have written to N, outlining the next steps in addressing the complaint.

Role of the Archbishop of York

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who faced similar scrutiny last year, is now tasked with determining the appropriate course of action. Cottrell has the authority to dismiss the complaint, impose sanctions, or escalate it to a church tribunal for further investigation.