By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 9, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop of Westminster Richard Moth as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Northampton following charges against Bishop David Oakley. The bishop, who became the Bishop of Northampton in 2020, has been charged by Staffordshire Police with two counts of raping a female under the age of 16, based on “non-recent” allegations. Following his arrest last year, Bishop Oakley has been withdrawn from public ministry.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) announced that Pope Leo XIV’s decision ensures the continued pastoral governance of the diocese, as Oakley is unable to exercise his office. Archbishop Moth expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the Pope and invited prayers for guidance and wisdom in fulfilling his duties.
Archbishop Moth will continue to reside and work at Archbishop’s House in Westminster, London, while also supporting the people and clergy of Northampton. A spokesman for the police confirmed that Bishop Oakley, aged 70, is due to appear at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on August 14.
In line with the principles of justice and accountability, this development underscores the importance of addressing allegations seriously, reflecting Micah 6:8’s call for justice, mercy, and humility in our actions. The appointment of Archbishop Moth serves as a temporary measure to maintain the diocese’s governance during this challenging time.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
