Britain's Methodist Church apologizes for nearly 2,000 abuse cases

The U.K.'s Methodist Church announced Thursday that investigations revealed 1,885 physical and sexual abuse cases, many of which involved children, within the church over more than 50 years. The church issued an apology for "failing to protect the victims," The Associated Press reports.

Martyn Atkins, general secretary of the Methodist Conference, told AP that the abuse "is and will remain a deep source of grief and shame to the church."

The church published the report after three years of investigations into sexual, physical, emotional, and domestic abouse or neglect within the church since 1950. AP notes that in 26 percent of cases, church ministers or employees were the perpetrators of abuse. Six police investigations have been opened as a result of the church's report.

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Atkins told AP that in the future, the Methodist Church, which includes about 200,000 members in Britain, will "do all in its power to improve its systems to protect children, young people, and adults from abuse within the life of the church and on church premises."