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An argument with a priest threatens to disrupt Oxford College

The leader of one of Oxford University’s top colleges has indicated he has agreed to resign after a long-running dispute over a £ 1.5m contract and ending an abusive sentence.

But a woman who complained about her actions said she wanted the investigation “to be conducted without interruption and without interruption”, which posed a problem for the university and the Charity Commission, which seeks to be eliminated.

Christ Church, the 13th prime minister, has been embroiled in controversy for five years that has cost the college millions of pounds and damaged Oxford’s reputation.

The controversy began in 2017 when the dean, a priest named Martyn Percy, he asked to increase his annual salary of £ 90,000, but he got into a fight against the ruling party with a £ 600m assets.

Percy strongly denies wrongdoing and has so far refused to resign after losing the trust of many members of the governing body.

Various lawsuits were dropped, including statements about lost documents and a campaign to torture anonymous individuals. They have exposed deep flaws in Christ Church, founded by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525 and whose alumni included John Locke, William Gladstone and the creator of Alice in Wonderland, mathematics teacher Charles Dodgson, best known for his writing name Lewis Carroll.

Christ Church, founded by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525 © Serg Zastavkin / Dreamstime

Things have gotten so bad that Percy has been suspended from office following allegations that he was sexually assaulted. This controversy, created by a young woman working in the church in October 2020, is different from her main dispute with Christ Church.

Thames Valley police thought the alleged harassment, which included massaging a woman’s hair in a cathedral – did not satisfy the terrorists. Dean’s followers downplayed the incident. However, officials at Christ Church have found it necessary to investigate further in accordance with the rules of the college. The trial is set to begin in March.

“Some foreign parties have lost sight of the fact that abusive and inappropriate language is a major issue,” said a person close to the college.

In her own words, she said: “If I had not come to my senses and felt this way, I would not have regretted it. I made my own decision, without any pressure from anyone. I would like to thank Christ Church for the seriousness of the case and for the conviction that the court of Christ Church will be able to proceed without hindrance. ”

Three senior officials – Lord Charles Cecil, former banker and former Hertfordshire High Sheriff, Robin Priest, former Deloitte ally, and Sir John Aird, one page honoring the Queen – this month have asked for a dean. receive a final payment of £ 1.5m “total tax and national insurance”, for agreeing to resign and relinquish his college anti-college decision.

Christ Church will “return all dean” to law and any other technical matters, he says. This could take the total damage to several million pounds.

One person familiar with the idea said the settlement would include a supervisor reviewing the authority, but should leave “within a few months”. Christ Church will also donate “money” to the female complainant.

Percy thinks the request is “a wise approach”, according to another aide, Deborah Loudon. “Dean is looking for a way forward that would allow him to work again and get his money back.

The priest, one of the opponents of the settlement, had previously joined Jonathan Aitken, a former Tory MP who attends Christ Church; along with other students, they accused the college governing body of “dangerous thinking” in their argument with Percy.

Christ Church declined to comment on the alumni ‘request.

The problems of the college are exacerbated by the fact that it is a very rare group of the Church of England and education: run by a priest but most of its governing body are students.

The governing body initially sought to oust Percy in 2018 by enforcing college rules on “sexual misconduct, shame or degrading behavior”. A retired Supreme Court judge who heard the controversy found that the dean’s actions did not meet the criteria.

In 2020, 41 members of the 65-member governing body said the official had shown a “lack of moral compass”, but had little legal means to remove him before he could retire in 2032.

Oxford University Chancellor Lord Chris Patten and vice-chancellor, Dame Louise Richardson, met with officials at Christ Church this week to urge an end to the dean’s feud. However, they also have less power, due to the culture of the university.

Chris Patten at the Oxford ceremony
Chris Patten met with officials at Christ Church this week to urge an end to the conflict with dean © David Hartley / Shutterstock

The Charity Commission, which oversees universities in Oxford, says it wants to address the issue by claiming that Christ Church could use its charitable funds to pay its fees. The council’s chairman resigned last month before resigning after announcing his past performance.

The college and the dean are due to enter the mediator, contrary to what the alumni provided, this month. The college has so far chosen a team to offer advice as Percy, who was on sick leave during the dispute, is unfit for office. Followers say the group is an example of violence and that they are ready to return to work.

Percy continues to talk about events and write about religion when he is suspended as dean. In another article, posted on his page in September 2021, he criticized the Church of England leadership for “systemic autism”, which he later apologized for.

In another article, published in November, he compared his own experience as an adult with that of Nazi victims. Representatives of the disciples of Christ Church defendant he of “trivialis[ing] the persecution of the Nazis ”, and the Oxford Diocese said the case was” a misuse of the Nazi genocide “. Percy apologized “for any wrongdoing”.


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