Catholic bishop of Northampton charged with child rape

The diocese of Northampton, England, confirmed that a Catholic bishop in England has been charged with child rape.

Bishop David James Oakley of Northampton was charged with two counts of rape against a female under the age of 16.

The diocese of Northampton confirmed that the bishop “has been charged after an investigation into non-recent safeguarding allegations.”

The diocese could not provide further comment.

“We understand that this will be very distressing for all concerned but cannot comment further on an active legal process,” the diocese said in its statement.

The statement provided direction to safeguarding resources.

“If you have any safeguarding concerns please contact either the diocesan safeguarding team or the police directly,” the diocese said.

Oakley was ordained in 1980 as a priest and became bishop of Northampton in 2020. In October of last year, he took a leave of absence for “personal reasons.” Oakley was an episcopal advisor for Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England and Wales and was rector of St. Maryʼs College, Oscott, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, from 2013 to 2020.

English news outlets reported that the bishop was a strong contender for bishop of Westminster in recent years.

Oakley will appear in court for an initial hearing August 14.