Author: Richard Scorer

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IICSA and clerical abuse: the devil in the detail

Richard Scorer unpacks the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and finds that while... Read More »

Tackling child abuse in religious settings: What must happen next

Tackling child abuse in religious settings: What must happen next

As the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse draws to an end, Richard Scorer explains what the government needs... Read More »

Upset girl

Fundamentalists are still being given too much of a free pass on child abuse

The IICSA inquiry's latest report on child abuse in religious organisations and settings provides welcome evidence... Read More »

Bishops' bench

The Church of England’s culture of entitlement has to end

The furore over John Sentamu not being handed a life peerage reveals an ugly culture of entitlement that has not served... Read More »

Religious fundamentalists can’t be trusted with child protection

Religious fundamentalists can’t be trusted with child protection

The extraordinary antics of Jehovah's Witnesses at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse demonstrate why... Read More »

Amanda Spielman at IICSA

The state must act to protect children in unregistered faith schools

Eye-opening evidence at a public inquiry has shown the dangers presented by unregistered schools. Richard Scorer,... Read More »

IICSA report is a damning indictment of Catholic Church’s handling of sexual abuse

IICSA report is a damning indictment of Catholic Church’s handling of sexual abuse

Richard Scorer, NSS Vice president and specialist child abuse lawyer, says the latest Independent Inquiry into Child... Read More »

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The C of E can’t be allowed to keep shielding abusers from accountability

A damning report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has highlighted the need for independent oversight... Read More »

Catholic abuse scandals: why self policing always fails

Catholic abuse scandals: why self policing always fails

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has turned its attention to child sexual abuse at Ealing Abbey and... Read More »

Time to end criminality and cover-up in the Catholic Church

Time to end criminality and cover-up in the Catholic Church

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has turned its attention to abuse in the Catholic Church's archdiocese... Read More »

Child protection must come before the reputation of institutions like Ampleforth and Downside

Child protection must come before the reputation of institutions like Ampleforth and Downside

Richard Scorer says a damning report on two leading Catholic schools' approach to safeguarding is a reminder of the... Read More »

The Church of England provided the perfect cover for Peter Ball’s offending

The Church of England provided the perfect cover for Peter Ball’s offending

Opening statement by lawyer Richard Scorer of Slater and Gordon, also an NSS vice president, at the IICSA inquiry's... Read More »

The seal of the confessional and child abuse: a religious privilege too far

The seal of the confessional and child abuse: a religious privilege too far

Some clerics want exemptions from reporting requirements on abuse when it's revealed in the confessional. Accommodating... Read More »

Bishops must be accountable – and not just to themselves

Bishops must be accountable – and not just to themselves

Abridged version of the winding-up speech by lawyer Richard Scorer of Slater and Gordon, also an NSS vice president,... Read More »

The C of E cannot be trusted to deal with safeguarding complaints in house

The C of E cannot be trusted to deal with safeguarding complaints in house

On the first day of hearings into child sexual abuse in the Church of England, NSS vice-president Richard Scorer told... Read More »

Only reform of the law can tackle the Church's temptation to cover up abuse

Richard Scorer reflects on three weeks of damning evidence at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. He... Read More »

Abuse Inquiry to investigate Benedictine institutions

An upcoming hearing of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse will be an opportunity to examine the reality... Read More »

The Church can’t be allowed to carry on marking its own homework

The Church concealed evidence of criminality and colluded to protect an abusive bishop. Only external oversight will... Read More »

The Catholic Church’s abuse scandal shows no sign of abating

After forty years the Catholic Church is still more interested in protecting itself and its clerical culture than... Read More »

Religious privilege undermines abuse victims’ access to justice

Richard Scorer, a specialist child abuse lawyer at Slater & Gordon draws attention to organisations seeking more... Read More »

Church documents expose an even bigger cover-up than suspected in the Peter Ball case

The recent release of more internal Church of England documents relating to the Peter Ball case exposes an even bigger... Read More »

Bishop Ball case: Questions for Lord Carey

With the release of some of the letters written in support of Bishop Ball during the 1992-1993 police investigation,... Read More »

The English Catholic Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis

In England, Catholic leaders have fostered the impression that the English church has been relatively scandal-free,... Read More »