Pope Leo appoints Archbishop to oversee diocese

The leader of Catholics in England and Wales has been temporarily appointed by the Pope to oversee the Diocese of Northampton, after the area's bishop was charged with rape.

Staffordshire Police confirmed Bishop David Oakley was charged with two counts of raping a female under 16, following an investigation into "non-recent" allegations.

The offences were alleged to have taken place between February 2000 and February 2001, the force said.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) said Pope Leo had appointed the Archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth, as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Northampton, which covers Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Oakley, 70, is due to appear at Cannock Magistrates' Court on 14 August.

In a statement, the CBCEW said: "This is a temporary role, by which the Holy See ensures that the pastoral governance of a diocese will continue when it is not possible for a diocesan bishop to exercise his office.

"Therefore, the governance of the Diocese of Northampton is now canonically entrusted to Archbishop Moth."

Moth said: "I am humbled by the trust which His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has placed in me by assigning me this mission as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Northampton, in addition to my ministry as the Archbishop of Westminster.

"I ask those whom I am called to serve to pray for me, that the Lord will continue to give me his spiritual guidance and wisdom needed to fulfil these duties."

The CBCEW said Moth will continue to live and work at Archbishop's House in Westminster, London, while providing support to the people and clergy of Northampton.

Oakley, from Stourbridge, was appointed Bishop of Northampton in 2020 and was ordained in 1980.

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.