Shocking revelations have surfaced about a former priest, Anthony Pierce, who was jailed earlier this year for the indecent assault of a minor. It turns out the Church had been informed of misconduct allegations against Pierce as far back as the mid-1980s, long before these heinous crimes came to light. A university student had reported an incident, but no disciplinary actions appear to have been taken at that time.
Despite the gravity of the allegation, it seems the information was simply passed to higher-ups without further investigation. It was a different era back then, but such a serious claim would certainly trigger a more rigorous response today, according to the Church’s recent statement. A safeguarding officer concluded an internal review on how the case was handled, noting that practices have significantly changed over the past 40 years. A similar allegation now would be independently reviewed by the national Church’s safeguarding team.
While Pierce rose to become the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon from 1999 to 2008, the shadow of unaddressed allegations loomed. Victims have spoken out about their distress over how their cases were mishandled, and the Church continues to face scrutiny for its past safeguarding failures.
Sadly, the Bishop who received the original report has passed away, leaving gaps in the historical record. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to ensure victims receive the support they need. For anyone with concerns, the Church emphasises their dedicated safeguarding team is ready to help.
Let’s hope this serves as a wake-up call for more transparency and action within institutions.