The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, has now to decide the future of a South Lakeland Church of England priest following an appeal hearing in York.
The Rev Harry Brown's appeal to the Archbishop, against a decision to revoke his licence, has finished after a total of five days of evidence. Witnesses had included the priest himself and the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev Graham Dow.
Mr Brown, priest-in-charge of Crosscrake and Preston Patrick, will now have to wait for a written ruling from the Archbishop, expected in several weeks.
The priest's licence was revoked in September 2001 following allegations of what the Carlisle diocese called sexual harassment, intimidating behaviour and mental abuse, and financial irregularities'. Mr Brown has always denied the allegations, apart from the financial irregularities, for which he has already given account to the appeal hearing, saying he had not intended any wrongdoing.
January 6, 2003 16:00
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