Archbishop of Canterbury: Bishop urges Justin Welby to resign amid Church abuse scandal

Justin Welby acknowledged that he should have been more diligent in pursuing the specifics of John Smyth's abusive actions back in 2013.

A bishop from the Church of England has urged the Archbishop of Canterbury to step down, stating that his role has become "unworkable" following a harsh report about a known child abuser linked to the Church.

Mr. Welby is experiencing increasing calls to step down after it was revealed last week that he did not thoroughly investigate the reports regarding John Smyth QC's "horrific" abuse of over 100 boys and young men.

An examination of how the Church dealt with Smyth’s situation stated that the archbishop "could and ought to" have alerted the authorities when he was informed about it in 2013.

Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley of Newcastle is the highest-ranking church official to urge Justin Welby to resign. This comes after various accusations that Welby permitted the ongoing abuse from 2013 until Smyth's passing in 2018.

In a Monday interview with the BBC, she stated, "It's understandable that people are questioning whether the Church of England can truly ensure our safety. Right now, I would have to say 'no'."

Bishop Hartley stated that Mr. Welby's departure wouldn't address the safeguarding issues directly, but it would clearly signal that a boundary has been set, emphasizing the need to progress towards independent safeguarding practices.

Last week, Mr. Welby admitted that the review indicated he had "personally let down" in his duty to "thoroughly investigate." He mentioned that he had thought about stepping down but ultimately chose to remain in his position.

The Makin review of Smyth's situation indicated that he could have faced legal consequences for years of abuse prior to his passing in 2018 if he had been officially reported to the authorities back in 2013.

Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Newcastle, expressed concern that the Church might compromise its credibility regarding this issue.

Three members of the Church's governing body, the General Synod, have charged the archbishop with "permitting abuse to persist" over the past five years. They have initiated a petition demanding the archbishop's resignation, which has already garnered over 7,000 signatures.

Smyth is thought to be the most active serial abuser linked to the Church of England, having inflicted various types of trauma—physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual—on as many as 130 victims.

The report reveals that his misconduct spanned nearly fifty years and occurred in three different countries. He specifically preyed on boys who participated in summer camps he organized for young Christians.

According to the report, Smyth exploited between 26 and 30 boys and young men in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s. After that, he moved to Africa, where he victimized an additional 85 to 100 boys aged 13 to 17.

The report indicates that since July 2013, the Church of England was aware, at the highest levels, of Smyth's abusive actions in the UK. It suggests that they had a responsibility to appropriately and thoroughly inform both the UK police and the relevant authorities in South Africa about him.

The report states that the Church's failure to take action was a "lost chance to hold him accountable."

Hampshire Police began looking into Smyth after a documentary aired on Channel 4 in 2017, revealing allegations against him.

Soon after it was broadcast, Mr. Welby expressed to Channel 4, "I honestly had no knowledge that such terrible events were taking place, nor did I expect the kind of story presented in the clip."

"If I had been aware of that, I would have taken a much more active approach. But honestly, I had no reason to suspect anything."

However, the report from last week indicated that "sufficient information had been recognized to raise concerns when it was brought to attention in 2013."

Smyth passed away at the age of 75 while being examined by Hampshire Police.

Andy Morse, a victim of Smyth, shared with the Telegraph, "I have doubts about the truthfulness of his statements."

"I'm not certain he knew all the specifics, but I believe he would have been aware of the general overview."

The Reverend Richard Coles expressed on X that anyone in a position of power who was aware of an abuser and failed to take appropriate action to prevent further abuse should step down.

Anglican priest Giles Fraser mentioned to the BBC that Mr. Welby has "alienated the trust of his clergy."

Mr. Fraser, the vicar of St Anne's Church in Kew, west London, stated on the BBC Radio 4's Today program that Mr. Welby "absolutely needed to resign."

Reflecting on his own experiences of being mistreated at school, Mr. Fraser described it as "extremely distressing and something that lingers with you."

"This occurred when I was around seven or eight years old – I’ll be 60 in just a few weeks," he shared.

"It's shameful that people were still mistreated even after the Church was aware of the situation."

When questioned about whether Mr. Welby should resign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refrained from offering any opinion, stating, "That's really a decision for the Church, not for me."

John Smyth QC is thought to be the most notorious serial predator linked to the Church of England.

Smyth faced allegations of assaulting boys at his residence in Winchester during the 1970s and 1980s. He reportedly selected these boys from Christian camps he organized, as well as from prominent public schools like Winchester College.

Smyth brought them back to his house, where he used a garden cane to administer beatings in his shed.

One of Smyth's victims, Andrew Watson, the Bishop of Guildford, has previously spoken about the "intense and disturbing" abuse he endured.

In 1982, a document outlining Smyth's misconduct was given to certain Church officials, but it was never reported to the police.

He was urged to exit the country and subsequently relocated to Zimbabwe before eventually settling in South Africa.

Smyth faced manslaughter charges in connection with 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 efforts of numerous individuals who were aware of the situation allowed John Smyth to carry out his actions abroad, ultimately passing away before he could be held accountable.

He stated, "Before 2013, I was completely unaware of any signs of this abuse."

Many people are frustrated with how Church leaders have reacted to the Makin review. They believe it reflects an ongoing trend where protecting their reputation and each other takes precedence over caring for the victims of abuse.

The Bishop of Newcastle felt it necessary to voice her concerns after receiving a letter earlier in the month from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The letter addressed a position she had taken on safeguarding, which she found to contain what she perceived as pressure-inducing language.

This concerns 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 of a different abuse investigation that called into question his management of a situation involving a priest who had abused a 16-year-old boy.

In a letter dated November 1, which Bishop Helen-Ann described as unexpected, both archbishops expressed their desire for a solution that would allow Sentamu to resume his ministry.

She expresses feeling disturbed by the letter, noting that it seems to prioritize Lord Sentamu rather than the person who suffered abuse.

Matthew Ineson, a survivor of abuse, stated that Mr. Welby should certainly step down from his position.

Reverend Matthew Ineson, who experienced abuse from another member of the clergy, expressed to the BBC that he thinks Mr. Welby should step down, along with anyone else who has neglected their responsibilities in ensuring safety.

"If he fails to do so, the Church is once more demonstrating that it doesn't grasp the experience of being a victim," he remarked.

During the weekend, the Church's head safeguarding bishop expressed her acceptance of Mr. Welby's apology but refrained from commenting on whether he should step down from his position.

Andrew Graystone, who wrote a book on the Smyth case, expressed on X that he felt "uneasy" regarding the demands for Mr. Welby's resignation.

"What we really need is not just to remove one leader but a complete transformation of the church's culture," he stated.

A representative for Mr. Welby mentioned that the archbishop is optimistic that the Makin review will aid in the continued efforts to create a safer Church. The spokesperson also emphasized the archbishop's shock at the extent of John Smyth's serious misconduct, as he expressed in his public apology.

A representative for the Archbishop of York expressed disappointment that the letter is being labeled as coercive. He clarified that this was not the Archbishop's intention, nor did he want to upset the Bishop of Newcastle.

BBC Action Line: If you have been impacted by the issues discussed in this article, discover what assistance is offered here.