Bishop calls for Justin Welby to resign over failure to pursue serial abuser

A bishop from the Church of England has joined the increasing number of voices urging the archbishop of Canterbury to step down. This comes in response to his lack of action regarding a brutal child abuser when claims were first reported to him.

Helen-Ann Hartley, the bishop of Newcastle, stated that Justin Welby's role was no longer sustainable and that he should resign. She emphasized that a boundary had to be established.

Hartley conveyed to the BBC that he believes it's quite challenging for the church, as the official national church, to maintain a moral stance in our country when it struggles to address serious internal issues like abuse.

Andrew Morse, who suffered abuse from John Smyth during his teenage years, also urged Welby to step down. He believes that this action would send a strong personal and public signal that the church is committed to no longer hiding instances of abuse.

"He stated to the Guardian that stepping down would be a constructive move in an extremely grim scenario that has persisted since Smyth began assaulting me and my friends over 40 years ago."

Welby and his team at Lambeth Palace, where the archbishop works, focused more on protecting the church’s image than on addressing the suffering of Smyth's victims. Their lack of action, which amounted to a cover-up, enabled Smyth to carry on his abusive behavior without facing any consequences, he remarked.

"I experience the effects of the abuse every single day," Morse explained. "I often find myself awake at night, struggling to make sense of what occurred. The only reason I've managed to get through this is thanks to the love and support of those around me, as well as the professional help I've received."

"I wish Welby would recognize this as a chance to take a stand and declare that it’s time to stop. I believe his conscience is guiding him in this direction."

Members of the Church of England's governing body, the General Synod, have started a petition urging Welby to resign, citing his involvement in permitting the ongoing abuse. By 5 PM on Monday, the petition had garnered 5,000 signatures.

Robert Thompson, the individual who created the petition, expressed that the way the church dealt with the Smyth abuse situation raised worries among individuals from various theological backgrounds within the Church of England.

Thompson, who advocates for LGBT rights in the church, teamed up with traditionalist ministers to demand Welby step down from his position.

This consists of a series of reports detailing instances of abuse and the church's responses to them. There is genuine frustration that despite numerous accounts and repeated apologies, nothing has improved.

"It's not solely focused on Welby; it's also about the overall culture within the church. However, Welby has alienated many clergy members in the Church of England. The bishop of Newcastle echoes the sentiments of other bishops who prefer to remain silent. I don’t believe Welby can endure this situation."

The archbishop has “lost the trust of the clergy,” said Giles Fraser, a vicar from London, during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today program. “This should be a turning point for the church, prompting us to examine the culture of blind loyalty that allows many in our senior leadership to consistently protect one another.”

Last week, Welby mentioned that he had thought about stepping down due to his "shameful" choice not to take strong action regarding allegations of abuse against Smyth, a prominent and influential lawyer who passed away in 2018, after he learned about them in 2013.

Lambeth Palace announced on Monday that Welby expressed a deep apology for his own shortcomings and mistakes, as well as for the wrongdoing, cover-ups, and mistreatment carried out by the church as a whole. However, he has stated that he does not plan to step down from his position.

The pressure on Welby has been mounting since the release of a troubling report last week that uncovered the church's role in hiding Smyth's abuse that took place in the UK during the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as later incidents in Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is estimated that around 130 boys fell victim to his actions.

In his report, Keith Makin characterized the abuse as widespread, severe, and deeply shocking. He pointed out that the Church of England was aware of the allegations at the highest levels, yet their reaction was completely inadequate and essentially served to conceal the issue.

Welby and other high-ranking officials in the Church of England were informed about claims that Smyth had mistreated numerous boys who had gone to evangelical Christian summer camps organized by the Iwerne Trust, subjecting them to severe beatings in his garden shed. Many of these boys were students at Winchester College, which is one of the leading private schools in the UK.

Welby offered his time at holiday camps in the late 1970s but claims he didn't know about any allegations back then. According to the Makin report, he was made aware of the abuse claims in 2013 but did not respond. The report also noted that it seems improbable that he was unaware of the rumors about Smyth during his time at the camps.

"[Welby] might not have been fully aware of the severity of the abuse, but it's very likely he had some understanding that John Smyth raised certain alarms."

When Channel 4 News revealed Smyth's abusive behavior in 2017, Welby stated on the show that he was completely unaware of such terrible actions taking place. He expressed that he had no doubts or concerns about it at all.

Demands for Welby to step down are being fueled in part by clergy who often voice their discontent with the archbishop's leadership of the Church of England. However, these calls might gain more support in the coming days.

Welby is anticipated to declare his retirement soon, either in the next few weeks or months. In the Church of England, bishops must retire when they reach 70 years old. Welby will reach that age in January 2026, but it is common for bishops to provide advance notice of their retirement, as the process to fill their positions can be quite lengthy.

Lambeth Palace commented, "The archbishop has expressed his deep shock at the extent of John Smyth's horrific abuse, as shown in his public apology. He has sincerely apologized for his own shortcomings and for the church's broader wrongdoing, including its attempts to hide and ignore the abuse."

He stated that he was completely unaware of the allegations until he was informed about them in 2013. After considering the situation, he has decided not to resign.