A disgraced former bishop Paedophile, Anthony Pierce, has confessed to multiple abhorrent child sexual offences, The Herald reports. Anthony Pierce, formerly a trusted individual within the Church in Wales, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Friday and entered a guilty plea to five charges of indecent assault against a male minor under the age of 16.
Anthony Pierce, who held the position of Bishop of Swansea and Brecon from 1999 to 2008, committed the reprehensible crimes between 1985 and 1990 while serving as a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea. The Church in Wales has acknowledged the transgressions, denouncing them as “shocking crimes” and conveying “profound shame.”
The court was informed that the allegations emerged last year when the survivor courageously reported the abuse to the church’s safety officer. The information was promptly relayed to the authorities, resulting in Anthony Pierce’s arrest and further charges.
Anthony Pierce has been granted bail, with sentencing scheduled for March 7 at Swansea Crown Court.
The incident has caused significant upheaval within the Church in Wales, prompting critical enquiries over its management of historical complaints. The church has acknowledged that certain members may have been cognisant of a prior allegation against Anthony Pierce in 1993 but did not take significant action. An immediate investigation has been initiated about the management of the complaint.
In a statement, the Church in Wales said: “We are appalled at the offences which have been revealed in this case and express our deepest sympathy with the victim for the abuse they have suffered. It is a cause of the most profound shame that a priest in the Church in Wales should have been convicted of such shocking crimes.”
The current Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Right Reverend John Lomas, addressed parishioners in a letter, acknowledging the deep betrayal felt by those who knew Pierce. “Anthony Pierce was your parish priest, your archdeacon, your bishop. The Diocese is full of people baptised, confirmed or ordained by him. This case will be deeply shocking to so many of you.”
Victims’ groups and campaigners are now calling for greater accountability within the Church in Wales, urging transparency in dealing with allegations of abuse.
The Church in Wales Disciplinary Tribunal has confirmed it will take further action following Pierce’s sentencing.
This latest scandal adds to a growing list of historic abuse cases that have rocked religious institutions across the UK, once again highlighting the urgent need for rigorous safeguarding measures and accountability for those in positions of trust.
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