In brief
An independent report has led to significant criticism of Archbishop Justin Welby for not sufficiently addressing long-standing abuse allegations.
An Anglican bishop has urged the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby, after an independent report exposed his inadequate response to historical abuse allegations connected to Christian summer camps. The report, released last week, indicated that Welby failed to address "abhorrent" abuse claims made against John Smyth, a well-known lawyer, who abused over 100 boys and young men starting in the 1970s. The Church of England was reportedly aware of abuse incidents at the highest levels since 2013, with Welby, who has been in his archbishop role since 2013 and is slated to retire in 2026, becoming aware of these allegations in August 2013, shortly after his appointment. The report chastised the church’s leadership for not reporting Smyth to authorities, a move that could have instigated a more substantial investigation and potentially led to convictions. Smyth passed away in 2018.The report criticized various church officials for their reluctance to take decisive action, stating that while some attempted to alert the authorities, the overall reaction from the Church of England appeared to be a cover-up. In response, Welby acknowledged the report's findings and admitted to his failure to ensure an energetic investigation into the allegations after they were disclosed. He reiterated his regret for not engaging with the victims sooner after a comprehensive investigation into the abuse was brought to light by a 2017 Channel 4 news report.
