The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has called for “radical change” following a report documenting a cover-up of child abuse within the Church of England.

The Reverend Reverend Martin Seeley was referred to once in the report. John Smyth QC’s abuse of more than 100 children and young men.

Bishop Seeley denied any wrongdoing and described Smyth’s crime as “appalling”.

In a digital newsletter sent to churchgoers, Bishop Seeley said the church should “clearly repent and learn from its failures to safeguard.”

“The Archbishop has taken responsibility for the failures in safeguarding and deeply regrets the appalling abuse inflicted by John Smyth,” Bishop Seeley said.

“No words can make up for the damage done to people’s lives by the failure of both John Smyth and individuals in the church and other institutions.”

The report included a statement by the Rev. Rico Tice, who Bishop Seeley asked about Smyth in an interview for the ministry’s discernment process.

The report stated that the Suffolk bishop did not remember asking this question.

In his final statement, he also noted that the discernment process consisted of a series of one-on-one interviews with four different panel members over three days and governed by strict reporting protocols.

Bishop Seeley emphasized that he served as election secretary for five years, attended approximately 40 election conferences, and would use the same questions for each candidate.

He said: “I remember this selection conference and I’m sure I would if I had been asked to deviate from the normal questions.

“I am also confident that I will report any information given to me regarding a safeguarding concern.

“I stand behind everything I said in the report, in full detail, that I asked such a question, that I have no recollection of being asked such a question.

“I am truly appalled by Smyth’s abuse of young Christians and support calls for the continued development of robust safeguarding processes.”