Church of England head Justin Welby under pressure to resign amid abuse scandal
Associated PressNOV 9 2024
A damning report revealed the Church of England failed to act against John Smyth, who abused approximately 130 boys and young men through brutal physical, psychological, and sexual attacks spanning five decades across three countries.
Archbishop Justin Welby, who knew Smyth from Christian summer camps in the 1970s, was informed of abuse allegations in 2013 but failed to ensure they were thoroughly investigated, representing a missed opportunity to bring Smyth to justice.
The Makin Review found that Church officials knew about the abuse at the highest level since 1982 and participated in an active cover-up, allowing Smyth to continue abusing victims in Zimbabwe and South Africa until his death in 2018.
The Church's leadership has fundamentally failed to protect vulnerable individuals and maintain moral authority through decades of institutional cover-up and inaction. The Archbishop's personal failure to act decisively in 2013 makes his position completely untenable and demands immediate accountability through resignation.
While acknowledging past failures, the Church has apologized profoundly and is working to build a safer institution. Welby had no awareness of the abuse's severity before 2013, and his continued leadership is essential for implementing necessary reforms and safeguarding improvements.