Bishop of Liverpool denies sexual assault allegations

Bishop of Liverpool denies  sexual assault  allegations
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The Rev. John Perumbalath has been accused of assaulting one woman twice and harassing another, the programme  said.
He said  a woman was allegedly assaulted in the diocese of Chelmsford in Essex, where he was Bishop of Bradwell, on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023. A female bishop also told Channel 4 News  that she was sexually harassed by  him.
In a statement, Bishop Perumbalath said he had  "repeatedly denied" the allegations, adding  that police had investigated them but  had taken no further  action.
Channel 4 News said Bishop Perumbalath, who was  installed as Bishop of Liverpool in 2023, was voluntarily  questioned in police  custody in March last  year. An exterior view of Liverpool Cathedral with  a clear blue  sky above
Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain and  the fifth largest in the  world.
Bishop Perumbalath said: "The allegations  made in this programme  relate to  meetings which took place in public  places, in the presence of other  people.
"I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both  complainants.
"I have complied with  all investigations by the National  Defence Team".
"The allegations  made in Essex were also investigated by the  police, who took no further  action.
"While I  do not believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons  learned from this process  in terms of how my actions  may be perceived by  others." "I will  respect any investigation  that is deemed  necessary."
"I take  the defence very seriously and  will work hard to provide  the right leadership in this  area."
"Learning outcomes"
The Church of England said it had also investigated the complaints, with a complaint of alleged misconduct  initially made in early  2023.
A spokesman said the investigation  "concluded that there were no ongoing  safety concerns, but a learning outcome was identified  to which the bishop  is fully  committed."
"The complaint was also investigated by the  police, which  did not result in  any further  action."
The statement continued:  "Shortly after the start of  these proceedings, another woman made a further  discovery. "The information  provided by the second complainant was  considered and assessed  as not  being a matter  of protection but  as a matter of alleged  abuse.
"Pastoral support has been provided  to the second  appellant throughout his life and  continues to be provided."
A native of Kerala in  southern India, Bishop Perumbalath was ordained  in the Church of North India in  1994.
He moved to the UK in 2001,  initially taking up  posts in the Diocese of Rochester.

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