Justin Welby to quit as archbishop of Canterbury over handling of abuse scandal

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has declared that he will resign amid increasing calls for him to leave due to his management of an abuse scandal.

Welby's situation has become increasingly difficult following the release of a scathing report last week about the church's efforts to hide the abuse perpetrated by John Smyth in the UK during the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as in Zimbabwe and South Africa afterward. It is estimated that around 130 boys were victimized.

The independent Makin review into the abuse determined that the archbishop could have faced legal action if he had reported the matter to the police ten years ago.

In a message shared on social media, Welby expressed, “After obtaining the kind approval of His Majesty The King, I have chosen to step down from my role as Archbishop of Canterbury.”

The Makin Review has revealed the long-hidden cover-up regarding the horrific actions of John Smyth. When I learned about this in 2013 and was told that the police had been made aware, I mistakenly thought that a proper solution would be reached.

"I recognize that I need to accept both personal and organizational accountability for the lengthy and distressing period that spanned from 2013 to 2024."

He mentioned that the specific times would be announced later and added, “I hope this decision shows how seriously the Church of England takes the need for change and our deep dedication to establishing a safer church. As I resign, I feel a deep sadness for all victims and survivors of abuse.”

In the past few days, I've been reminded of my deep and ongoing feelings of embarrassment regarding the Church of England's past failures in protecting people. For almost twelve years, I've worked hard to make things better. It's up to others to evaluate the progress that's been made.

Last week, Welby mentioned that he had thought about stepping down due to his "shameful" choice to not address allegations of abuse involving Smyth, a prominent and influential lawyer who passed away in 2018, when he first learned about them in 2013.

On Monday, Lambeth Palace released a statement indicating that Welby had deeply apologized for his personal mistakes and oversights, as well as for the wrongdoing, cover-ups, and abuse committed by the church in general. However, he does not plan to step down from his position.

However, Andrew Morse, who suffered at the hands of Smyth and first encountered him as a student at Winchester College in Hampshire, stated that Welby should step down in support of the victims of abuse.

During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Tuesday, he expressed that Welby's acknowledgment of not doing enough since 2013 "is sufficient for me to conclude that Justin Welby, along with many other members of the Anglican church, was involved in concealing information about the abuse." He characterized Smyth as a predator.

On Monday, a bishop from the Church of England joined the increasing chorus urging Welby to step down. Helen-Ann Hartley, the bishop of Newcastle, stated that his role had become unsustainable and that he ought to resign. She emphasized that a clear boundary must be established.

Hartley expressed to the BBC that he believes it's quite challenging for the church, as the official national institution, to maintain a moral authority in our society when it struggles to address its internal issues related to something as vital as abuse.

Smyth cruelly mistreated students from private schools who participated in evangelical Christian summer camps during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Over a span of fifty years, it's reported that he inflicted severe physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual harm on around 130 boys and young men in both the UK and Africa, leaving lasting scars on their lives.

When the abuse came to light, Smyth was permitted to relocate to another country with the awareness of church leaders, and there, he continued to operate without facing any consequences.

He passed away at the age of 75 in Cape Town in 2018 while being investigated by the Hampshire police, and according to the Makin review released last week, he "was never held accountable for the abuse."

Welby helped out at holiday camps in the 1970s, but he has claimed that he was unaware of any issues regarding Smyth. Nonetheless, the report indicated that this is “unlikely.”

It added: “[Welby] might not have been fully aware of the grave nature of the abuse, but it's likely that he had some awareness that John Smyth was a troubling figure ... However, we cannot determine if Welby understood the seriousness of the abuses that occurred in the UK before 2013.”