A prominent Roman Catholic monk widely known for his religious
broadcasts on the BBC flagship Today programme is being investigated by police after an allegation of a sexual offence.
Dom Antony Sutch has resigned as a contributor to Radio 4’s Thought
For The Day and withdrawn from his parish after a complaint about his
conduct while he was the headmaster of a top Catholic independent
school.
The Benedictine monk, who was a spiritual mentor to the late Princess
Diana and who preached at the marriage of the daughter of the Duchess of
Cornwall, is now said to have returned to his community next to
Downside School in Somerset.
According to Avon and Somerset police sources, an investigation was
launched over allegations that he had indecently touched a young person
aged over 16.
The incident is said to have happened 14 years ago when he
was head of the school, which charges boarders more than £25,000 a
year.
One source said it was ‘highly unlikely’ that the monk would be arrested
or charged over the alleged incident because the victim did not want to
make a formal complaint.
It is understood the original allegation came
from a third party.
The alleged incident took place before the introduction of the Sexual
Offences Act 2000, which made it illegal for a person to have sexual
relations with anyone under 18 while in a position of trust over them.
But the source said police were still looking into Dom Antony’s background to see if there was any other cause for concern.
The investigation is said to be standard procedure under so-called
‘safeguarding rules’ aimed at ensuring the safety of young people who
might come into contact with an individual.
Dom Antony voluntarily stepped down from his parish of St Benet’s in
Beccles, Suffolk, on November 25 at about the same time he told the BBC
he would not be making any further contributions to Thought For The Day.
His last broadcast, one of six last year, took place in October when he
spoke movingly about the inquiry into the 7/7 terrorist attacks on
London’s Underground.
Dom Antony, 60, who is now living in Downside Abbey at
Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Somerset, was once regarded as Princess Diana’s
favourite Roman Catholic priest and reportedly had a series of meetings
with her, provoking speculation about her fascination with Catholicism.
He was also a long-time friend of the Duchess of Cornwall’s Catholic
former husband Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles.
Dom Antony preached to guests including Prince Charles, Prince
William, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry at the wedding of the Duchess
of Cornwall’s daughter Laura Parker Bowles when she married Harry Lopes
in May 2006 in Lacock, Wiltshire.
He told the couple to concentrate on
tolerance and patience to make their marriage work.
The monk, who enjoys cricket and horseracing, provoked controversy when
he stepped down after eight years as headmaster of Downside by
criticising the Labour Government’s box-ticking culture in schools.
Dom Aidan Bellenger, the Abbot of Downside, and the Rt Rev Michael
Evans, the Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, said in a statement: ‘Dom
Antony Sutch, a monk of Downside Abbey, has voluntarily withdrawn from
all active ministry after a historical safeguarding allegation.’
The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the allegation, but
added: ‘This is a neutral act that makes no judgment of guilt or
innocence.’
Fr Mark Hackeson, Bishop Evan’s private secretary, said under Church
safeguarding procedures, ‘the withdrawal from ministry often takes place
before the police have decided whether or not there is a case to be
pursued’.
An Avon and Somerset police spokesman said they were aware of
the claim and the matter was ‘subject to an investigation’.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘Dom Antony Sutch resigned from Thought For The Day two months ago.
‘He said he wouldn’t be making further contributions to the slot with immediate effect.’
SIC: DM/UK