### Clue: Former secretary introduced to sect by head of English is free from blame (9)
### Answer: EXCULPATE 
 ### Explanation: Definition: free from blame
 EX-(prefix denoting "former"/once) + [PA(abbrev. for "private assistant"/someone's secretary) **contained in**(introduced to) CULT(a sect/a group of people with a persuasion regarded by others as strange)] **plus**(by) **1st letter of**(head of) "English".