THE Church's treatment of a former canon of York Minster who
confessed to sex offences against three children is being
investigated by the office of the Archbishop of York.
Canon John Norman, who died in 2005, was cautioned and placed on
the Sex Offenders' Register in 2004, the York Press
reported on Wednesday of last week. He was not prosecuted.
The York Press was approached by the sister of one of
the victims.
In response to enquiries by the newspaper, a spokesman for the
Archbishop of York's office said: "An initial trawl of our files
has failed to reveal any information about these allegations.
However, since this report has been made, it is now essential that
we look into the matter thoroughly."
Canon Norman was Canon and Prebendary of York Minster from 1977
to 1992. Before that, he worked in the dioceses of York, Brechin,
and Carlisle. He retired to live in Pocklington in 1983, and
assisted the chaplain at Pocklington School.
The reporting of the allegations came days after Dr Sentamu
announced that all existing files of deceased clergy who served in
the diocese of York have been recalled, as part of an investigation
into child abuse (
News, 23 August).