Archbishop of Canterbury: Bishop urges Justin Welby to resign amid Church abuse scandal
Source of the image: PA Media
Justin Welby acknowledged that he should have taken a more thorough approach in addressing the specifics of John Smyth's abuse back in 2013.
A bishop from the Church of England has urged the Archbishop of Canterbury to step down, declaring that his role has become "unsustainable" following a shocking report about a widespread child abuser linked to the Church.
Mr. Welby is experiencing increasing calls for his resignation after it was revealed last week that he failed to adequately investigate allegations of "horrific" abuse by John Smyth QC involving over 100 boys and young men.
An evaluation of how the Church managed Smyth's situation noted that the archbishop "had the ability and the responsibility" to have notified the authorities when he was informed about the matter in 2013.
Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley of Newcastle is the highest-ranking Church official to urge Justin Welby to resign, following accusations from others that he enabled abuse to persist from 2013 until Smyth's death in 2018.
In an interview with the BBC on Monday, she expressed, "It's completely understandable that people are questioning whether we can truly rely on the Church of England for our safety. Currently, I believe the answer is 'no.'"
Bishop Hartley stated that Mr. Welby's resignation wouldn’t resolve the issues surrounding safeguarding, but it would send a strong message that a boundary has been set, and that we need to work towards ensuring safeguarding operates independently.
Last week, Mr. Welby admitted that the review highlighted his "personal shortcomings" in not effectively pursuing investigations. He mentioned that he had thought about stepping down but ultimately chose to remain in his position.
According to the Makin review, which looked into Smyth's situation, he could have faced legal consequences for years of abuse prior to his death in 2018 if he had been officially reported to the police back in 2013.
Photo credit: Diocese of Newcastle
Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley of Newcastle expressed that the Church could jeopardize its credibility regarding this issue.
Three officials from the Church's governing body, the General Synod, have claimed that the archbishop permitted abusive behavior to persist over the last five years. They have launched a petition urging the archbishop to step down, which has already garnered over 7,000 signatures.
Smyth is thought to be the most active serial offender linked to the Church of England, with reports indicating that he has inflicted harmful physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual harm on around 130 victims.
According to the report, his misconduct spanned nearly fifty years and occurred in three different countries. He specifically focused on young boys who participated in the summer camps he organized for Christian youth.
According to the report, Smyth exploited between 26 and 30 boys and young men in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s. He later moved to Africa, where he went on to harm an additional 85 to 100 young males aged 13 to 17.
The report indicates that since July 2013, the Church of England was aware, at its highest levels, of Smyth's abusive behavior in the UK. It should have taken appropriate and effective action to notify the UK police and the relevant authorities in South Africa.
The report states that the Church's failure to act was a "lost chance to hold him accountable."
In 2017, Hampshire Police launched an investigation into Smyth following a documentary by Channel 4 that revealed accusations against him.
Soon after it was broadcast, Mr. Welby expressed to Channel 4, "I truly had no clue that anything this terrible was happening or that the kind of story featured in the clip existed."
"If I had been aware of that, I would have taken a much more active approach, but I didn't have any inkling whatsoever."
However, the report from last week indicated that "sufficient information was available that had already sparked concerns when it was brought to light in 2013."
Smyth passed away at the age of 75 while being investigated by Hampshire Police.
Andy Morse, a victim of Smyth, shared with the Telegraph: "I doubt he was being honest."
"I'm not certain he would have been aware of the specifics, but I believe he would have understood the main points."
Reverend Richard Coles expressed on X, "Those in positions of power who were aware of an abuser and failed to take appropriate action, allowing the abuse to persist, should step down."
Anglican priest Giles Fraser mentioned to the BBC that Mr. Welby no longer has the trust of his clergy.
Mr. Fraser, the vicar of St Anne’s Church in Kew, west London, stated on BBC Radio 4's Today program that Mr. Welby "absolutely needed to resign."
Reflecting on his past experiences of bullying in school, Mr. Fraser mentioned that it was "extremely distressing and leaves a lasting impact."
"This occurred when I was about seven or eight years old, and now I'm just weeks away from turning 60," he shared.
"It’s shameful that people continued to suffer abuse even after the Church was aware of what was going on."
When questioned about whether Mr. Welby should resign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chose not to provide an opinion, stating, "That's an issue for the Church to decide, not for me."
John Smyth QC is thought to be the most notorious serial abuser linked to the Church of England.
Smyth faced allegations of assaulting boys in his Winchester home during the 1970s and 1980s. He reportedly selected victims from Christian camps he organized and from prestigious schools such as Winchester College.
Smyth brought them to his house, where he used a garden cane to administer punishments in his shed.
One of Smyth's victims, Andrew Watson, the Bishop of Guildford, had earlier spoken about the "painful and horrifying" mistreatment he endured.
In 1982, a document outlining Smyth's misconduct was shared with certain Church leaders, but the authorities were not notified.
He received support to leave the country, which led him to relocate to Zimbabwe and eventually to South Africa.
Smyth faced accusations of causing the death of a 16-year-old boy during one of his summer camps, but he was not found guilty of the crime.
In a statement, Mr. Welby expressed his profound regret that this abuse occurred and that the silence of many individuals who knew about it for years allowed John Smyth to continue his actions abroad, ultimately passing away before he could be held accountable for his crimes.
He stated, "I was completely unaware of any abuse prior to 2013."
Many individuals are frustrated by how Church leaders have reacted to the Makin review. They believe it reflects a consistent trend of prioritizing their image and the defense of one another instead of focusing on the well-being of those who have suffered from abuse.
The Bishop of Newcastle felt it necessary to express her views after receiving a letter earlier in the month from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York regarding her position on safeguarding issues. She felt that the language used in their message was somewhat forceful.
The situation involves her decision to prohibit Archbishop of York John Sentamu from preaching in her diocese, where he currently resides. This action follows Lord Sentamu's dismissal of the results from a different abuse review that scrutinized how he dealt with a case involving a priest who abused a 16-year-old boy.
In a letter dated November 1, which Bishop Helen-Ann describes as unexpected, both archbishops express their desire for a solution that allows Sentamu to return to his ministry.
She expresses her discomfort with the letter and how it seems to center on Lord Sentamu rather than the person who experienced the abuse.
Matthew Ineson, a survivor of abuse, stated that Mr. Welby should "absolutely step down."
Reverend Matthew Ineson, who suffered abuse at the hands of another church leader, expressed to the BBC that he thinks Mr. Welby ought to step down and that all those who have not adequately ensured safety should resign as well.
"Should he fail to do so, it demonstrates once more that the Church lacks an understanding of the victim's experience," he remarked.
Over the weekend, the Church's top safeguarding bishop expressed her appreciation for Mr. Welby’s apology, though she refrained from commenting on whether he should step down from his position.
Andrew Graystone, who wrote a book focusing on the Smyth case, expressed his concerns on X about the demands for Mr. Welby to step down. He admitted feeling "anxious" regarding the situation.
"What is required is not just a quick fix, but a complete transformation of the church's culture," he stated.
A representative for Mr. Welby stated that the archbishop is optimistic that the Makin review will aid in the efforts to create a safer Church. The spokesperson also emphasized the archbishop's profound shock regarding the extent of John Smyth's shocking abuse, which was evident in his public apology.
A representative for the Archbishop of York expressed that he felt "unfortunate" about the letter being labeled as coercive. That was never his aim, nor did he mean to upset the Bishop of Newcastle.
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