Former archbishop resigns after report found he colluded in concealing evidence of sex abuse

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has resigned from his role in the Church of England after a recent inquiry found that he had colluded in concealing evidence to protect a bishop who was accused of committing sex offenses against teenagers.

Carey has been castigated in a review of the Church's handling of allegations of sex abuse against former bishop Peter Ball, who was jailed in October 2015 after admitting sex offenses against 18 teenagers.

The independent report authored by Dame Moira Gibb found that church leaders had mishandled the case by failing to offer adequate support to Ball's victims and concealing evidence of the abuses he committed.

Carey's resignation came after the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, urged him to "consider his position" following the release of the independent review last Thursday.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, confirmed that Carey has resigned from his role as Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Oxford.

"Lord Carey has accepted the criticisms made of him in the Gibb review and has apologised to the victims of Peter Ball," Croft said in a statement, according to The Telegraph.

"Along with many others, I have been deeply distressed to read Dame Moira Gibb's report with its narrative of the abuse perpetrated by Peter Ball which remained hidden for so long. I hope that the focus of attention will continue to be on the survivors of abuse and offering to them the care and support they need," Croft added.

Ball reportedly received a caution for gross indecency in 1993 for molesting a young man named Neil Todd.

The Gibb report alleged that Carey, who held the most senior role in the Church that time, knew about six letters of allegations against Ball, but he had failed to pass them on to the police.

The former archbishop also wrote a letter to Ball's twin brother, Bishop Michael Ball, saying he believed that he was "basically innocent."

Additionally, Carey had provided Ball with £12,500 (US$ 16,000) of Church cash, and allowed him to preach in public schools just three years after the bishop received his caution for gross indecency.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Carey said he accepts the criticisms against him and apologized to Ball's victims.

"I believed Peter Ball's protestations and gave too little credence to the vulnerable young men and boys behind those allegations," said the former archbishop.