Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey has resigned as a priest following a BBC investigation into the Church of England's handling of a sexual abuse case.

Lord Carey quit after the BBC contacted him about allegations he allowed a priest, who had been banned over sexual abuse allegations, to return to ministry.

In his resignation letter, Lord Carey said it had been an "honour to serve", having been practising since 1962.

The 89-year-old's decision to stand down came as a direct result of the investigation, a spokesperson later confirmed.

Lord Carey was named this month in an investigation into the disgraced priest David Tudor, who was found to have been barred by the Church from being alone with children and paid compensation to a sexual abuse victim.

In 1989, Tudor was banned from ministry for sexual misconduct by a Church tribunal but was allowed to return to ministry after five years.

When he was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey agreed that Tudor could come back under supervision the following year.

This was done "with some trepidation", the Church told the BBC.

Tudor was then struck off two months ago after he admitted historical sex abuse allegations relating to two girls.

In his resignation letter, sent on 4 December, Lord Carey wrote: "I wish to surrender my Permission to Officiate.

"I am in my ninetieth year now and have been in active ministry since 1962 when I was made Deacon and then Priested in 1963.

"It has been an honour to serve in the dioceses of London, Southwell, Durham, Bristol, Bath and Wells, Canterbury and finally Oxford.

"I give thanks to God for his enduring faithfulness but want to recognise the remarkable contribution of Eileen whose faithfulness and support has been outstanding."

The BBC's investigation also found that the Archbishop of York let Tudor remain in post despite knowing about his case.

Stephen Cottrell has resisted calls to resign, saying he was "deeply sorry" that action had not been taken earlier but that he had "inherited" the situation.

He added there were no legal grounds to take alternative action.


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