LONDON: Liverpool Malayali Bishop John Perumbalath, who was in the highest position of the Church of England, known as the Protestant branch, has taken early retirement and resigned from his position. The bishop, who was due to retire at the age of 70, retired 12 years early following serious sexual misconduct allegations made by two women.
Britain's leading TV channel 'Channel 4' television was the first to release the sexual misconduct allegations against the bishop on Tuesday through its Prime Time News. The allegations were made by a member of the church and another female bishop. Bishop John Perumbalath had been questioned earlier by the police following a complaint by one of them. However, neither the police nor the higher authorities took further action against Bishop John Perumbalath, reports Channel 4.
The issue of John Perumbalath is filling the media at a time when the Church of England is accused of not taking necessary action in other similar complaints. John Perumbalath was born in Mananthavady and studied in Kolkata and London. There is a strong demand that the issue should not end with his retirement and that further legal action be taken.
Meanwhile, John Perumbalath denied all the allegations against him. John said that it is the media that is conducting the trial and that he did not take early retirement because of the allegations.