The Archbishop of Canterbury stepped down following a report that revealed that the Church of England had hidden the sexual abuse committed by a lawyer.
(The Post News)- The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has resigned after an inquiry found he did not promptly inform authorities about repeated physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps.
The Makin Review, a recent 251-page report, found that Welby did not alert authorities about John Smyth’s abuse when he learned of it in August 2013, shortly after beginning his role as Archbishop of Canterbury. Last week, Welby admitted to not investigating the accusations as vigorously as needed but decided against stepping down. On Monday, his office put out a statement confirming his choice to remain in position while denouncing the severity of Smyth’s harmful actions.
The stepping down of Welby comes after the Church of England faced extensive investigation for past incidents of sexual abuse. A report in 2022 from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse revealed that the church’s culture, which involved respect for priestly authority, reluctance to talk about sexuality, and a tendency to prioritize alleged perpetrators over victims, allowed abusers to act without consequences.
The Makin Report, which operates independently, claimed that over a span of 40 years, British lawyer John Smyth had subjected over 100 boys and young men to physical and sexual abuse that was described as “brutal and horrific.” The report stated that Smyth assaulted several victims with as many as 800 cane strikes and provided diapers to manage the bleeding. He would then cover himself over his victims, occasionally planting kisses on their neck or back.
He organized Christian camps in Dorset, England, where Welby also served prior to becoming ordained. According to the report, Smyth moved to Africa in 1984 and continued his abusive behavior until shortly before his death in 2018. It was discovered that the Church of England had been aware of the sexual abuse claims in 2013 at a high level, and Welby found out about the accusations in the same year when he became archbishop. A police investigation in 2013 could have resulted in Smyth being charged before his death, according to the 2019 report.
A UK-wide consultation is being held to gather input from individuals both within and outside of the Church of England on the qualities they desire in the successor of Archbishop Justin Welby, who currently leads 85 million Anglicans in 165 countries worldwide. It is claimed that the process will take several months to complete. The chaos in the Church of England stems from a series of scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, in which the failure to safeguard young individuals from predatory clergy and the inadequate examination of allegations of misconduct have tarnished the church’s standing in numerous nations.
Although senior Catholic officials have been found guilty of sexual abuse and even removed from their positions, no pope has stepped down after acknowledging a lack of responsibility. A group of 17 people, led by a chair chosen by the Prime Minister, will conduct interviews with the selected candidates. This committee comprises individuals from the worldwide Anglican Communion, the General Synod, and at least one bishop.
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