Canon Andrew Hindley

OnwardandUpward- maybe women priests are better ... and maybe some of the issues raised here might be tackled more effectively by a woman. We can but hope.

And yet so many vicars are women these days? Can't get the staff?

Cadeby

A hierachical system with men at the top.

Basically says it all.

That's interesting, thanks Monica, the threat of 'discrimination' is often used to shut down safe guarding. I mean in regards to a range of characteristics not particularly sexuality.

That’s an excellent summary MOnica. It’s good to see your analytical understanding of the difficulties faced by employers and Police/CpS in prosecuting in these circumstances.

A hierachical system with men at the top.

Thanks for explaining Monica.
I'm surprised his victims protected him and I hope the C of E can change the way they deal with employment in future to put better protection in place for their congregation and themselves.

I heard most of the programme on the radio this morning. It became clear why this man was so difficult to deal with.

Canon HIndley is clearly a very clever and very manipulative man. All the young men he was accused of having relations with flatly denied it and although rumours spread and reports were made they were all impossible to prove at any level that could get near prosecution requirements.

Also as an openly gay cleric in a rather conservative diocese, he kept playing the homophobia card, saying that all these aaccusations arose because those opposing him equated being homosexual with being a paedophile which was prejudice. He would threaten legal action if anything was done and those dealing with him faced the problem of damaging legal cases that they might well lose.

I really began to understand the problem the church had with dealing with this man. His victims denied everything, his power in his role as sacristan, effective cathedral managing director, gave him power over a lot of people dependent on him for their jobs or ability to get future jobs, a power he clearly had no problem in using to his advantage. The church concerned about legal action that might reinforce Canon Hindley's presentation of himself as a homosexual man suffering from unjust discrimination and rejection by a conservative hierarchy.

At the end of the programme while not defending everything the church authorities did - they at times acted foolishly and carelessly and spoilt their own case - i did understand the real problem they had dealing with this very difficult and clever man and his behaviour.

I didn't listen to the radio program, I researched my own information.

No surprise at all. Pervert hiding amongst the cloth nothing new.

I'm not either but I googled to find it.

[Hmm] I might have to start carrying my mobile phone more in certain places. There are some things that shouldn't be happening.

That is indeed an "interesting" link.
I am not in c of e, but I will have a good read of it.

As the link says, it is the start of a legal process.

Well well, this makes "interesting" reading...So basically only a person with a "proper interest" can complain to the Clergy Discipline Measure... www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/legal-resources/clergy-discipline

If you are abused in any way you either need a witness, or to be a church warden, on the PCC or the Arch Deacon (otherwise no one gives a damn)

That explains a few things.

Probably not the done thing to name people publicly, I don't want to fall foul of GN...

Put it one way, anyone who knows him, knows exactly who I'm talking about. Especially those with learning disabilities or mental health that he preyed on.

If someone "older" and new to your area is housed in social housing and seems a bit lost be careful because they may be being resettled by the Prison. Each time they have lived in a different part of the country as they've been moved sixty miles away from the place they lived before going to prison each time. I was able to plot it on a map and it made a perfect triangle. Nice work resettlement, there's only a few places left where he could go next at that rate.

This person would be safe around older people because they are only interested in older kids and teens. Just keep them away.

The CPS can't always proceed if there's not enough evidence or if the victim isn't able to give evidence. Fortunately in the case of someone like him who is known for previous offences, they put him away. How long for is anyone's guess. He's not the only one and I'm not comfortable naming.

I once went for a job that sounded good on paper and was horrified to learn that it was as a carer for pedophiles. There are many warped people so we just need to make sure we encourage good boundaries in our young people and know where they are. Make sure they are strong and not prey.

i meant the one who served terms in prison, as that is clearly criminal,
although there are so many of them . . .

OnwardandUpward,
could you give us his name, in case any of us come across him.

Religion or faith can often be a cloak for other things. It doesn't really make any difference what religion it is. Anyone in authority can abuse and cover it under a cloak of "respectability".

The minister of our local church spent a lot of time "ministering" to my friend's Mum. Everyone local saw his car there a lot and eyebrows were raised, but no one guessed the extent.

Then, my friend came home early and found him with her Mum without his trousers on. She was told he'd spilled his tea and her Mum was drying them At the time we believed it and laughed at his carelessness.

Later on when the affair was discovered, we looked back and the pieces fit together....He stayed with his wife and family while she was disgraced and alienated from hers, but it should have been the other way round. She was the vulnerable one, with MH and other problems, yet painted as a temptress.

It made the daily papers , as many stories of errant clergy do. Instead of making a troubled woman's life better, he wrecked it with his selfishness, doing house calls on vulnerable women and manipulating circumstances to his advantage until he was found out. Like many men, he wasn't sorry, only sorry he got caught!

When the affair came to light he threw his mistress to the wolves. I think she really loved him and with her existing MH problems it broke her. He carried on with his "ministry". He could decieve most people, but not the neighbours that saw his car outside her house and eventually pieced it together. I feel sorry for the lives that were damaged by his "ministry" for YEARS

My friend lost her mother at a young age because of this man's selfishness.

Quote Caleo Wed 14-Aug-24 11:27:07
Sandelf:
"Cannot understand why these cases don't go straight to the police."

Me neither. I hope the Archbishop of Canterbury has been misreported as rewarding the criminal with a golden handshake.The ArchB does after all influence people of other and no religious affiliation.

Best read the thread you will read the police were involved

M0nica

MissInterpreted

Perhaps because so much evil in the world has been perpetrated in the name of 'religion'...

But religion is often used as a cloak to cover other reasons. the problem in Northern Ireland has its roots in the hostility of the native Irish to British conquest and part of the colonistaion process was taking land from Irish landowners and granting it to Protestant settlers form Britain - mainly from Scotland. Since both irish and Scottish people look alike, the only way to tell them apart was by their religion.

There are many other examples of 'religious' wars, where religion was a cloak for other real non-religious reasons.

That's why I said 'in the name of religion'.

Paedophilia is one thing but assaulting kids is another. I do hope the old school tie is not affecting judgements but |I am afraid cases like this do rather point to it.

Sandelf:
"Cannot understand why these cases don't go straight to the police."

Me neither. I hope the Archbishop of Canterbury has been misreported as rewarding the criminal with a golden handshake.The ArchB does after all influence people of other and no religious affiliation.

the programme is on again right now, worth hearing;
bbc radio 4

MissInterpreted

Perhaps because so much evil in the world has been perpetrated in the name of 'religion'...

But religion is often used as a cloak to cover other reasons. the problem in Northern Ireland has its roots in the hostility of the native Irish to British conquest and part of the colonistaion process was taking land from Irish landowners and granting it to Protestant settlers form Britain - mainly from Scotland. Since both irish and Scottish people look alike, the only way to tell them apart was by their religion.

There are many other examples of 'religious' wars, where religion was a cloak for other real non-religious reasons.

Yes there are always good clergy people. And there are some very bad ones. Then there are those who turn a blind eye or who are too trusting and don't do the background checks.

In the case of the minister I mentioned above (not C of E) the church he attended knew of his past but they believed he had repented and would never do it again. I did some digging and discovered....

He would not have been approved to visit young people if it had been known about. I now know that this man was in and out of prison and moved around the country and was given a local authority home each time. His new neighbours had no idea and his old ones who knew, could not find him. I plotted his known homes on a map and he's done a triangle of Britain.

I wonder where he will end up next time he's let out of prison.

We can never be too careful who we get close to or let our young people get close to because you just never know.

Perhaps because so much evil in the world has been perpetrated in the name of 'religion'...