Associated Press

Church of England head Justin Welby under pressure to resign amid abuse scandal

Guardian

Justin Welby under growing pressure to resign over serial abuser

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby faces calls to resign over church child abuse

Independent

Labour piles pressure on Justin Welby as he faces calls to resign over sexual abuse scandal

After last week suggesting he wouldn't resign, Justin Welby has stepped down as Archbishop of Canterbury. This comes following the publication of a damning report, suggesting Welby failed to act when informed over a decade ago of abuses committed by barrister John Smyth.

BBC News

Smyth reportedly abused approximately 130 boys and young men, subjecting them to brutal physical, psychological, and sexual attacks spanning five decades across three countries.

Sky News

Archbishop Justin Welby had known Smyth since the 1970s. Informed of abuse allegations in 2013, Welby reportedly failed to ensure they were thoroughly investigated, which critics say represents a missed opportunity to bring Smyth to justice.

The Makin Review found that Church officials at the highest level had known about the abuse since 1982 and participated in an active cover-up, enabling Smyth to continue abusing victims in Zimbabwe and South Africa until his death in 2018.

Smyth targeted victims through evangelical Christian summer camps and elite private schools, subjecting them to savage beatings, with some of his victims even including members of his own family.

Welby's decision comes amid intense criticism and mounting pressure to leave his position. His resignation stated that he "must take personal and institutional responsibility" for the failings of the Church, particularly the suffering that occurred in the period following 2013.

The Telegraph

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A report published last week has revealed that the Church of England failed to act against barrister John Smyth, who abused approximately 130 boys and young men through brutal physical, psychological, and sexual attacks spanning five decades across three countries.

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Over 7K people have signed a petition calling for Welby's resignation, including three members of the Church's General Synod, who accused him of allowing abuse to continue between 2013 and 2018.

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The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, declared Welby's position untenable, stating the Church risks losing "complete credibility" and its "moral voice" due to its failure to properly address abuse.

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 failure to act decisively in 2013 makes his position untenable and demands immediate accountability through resignation.

New Statesman

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Justin Welby must resign now

The Church of England has a record of actioning significant reforms in response to safeguarding abuses. Support and redress schemes, safeguarding officers, and information-sharing agreements are just some of the systems used within the organization to keep vulnerable people safe. The Church should be left to determine what internal action is necessary in response to these horrendous revelations.

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Inquirys Anglican Church Investigation Leads Church Reform And New Law.Htm

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UK: Archbishop Faces Resignation Calls Over Church Abuse Cover-up

South Africa

Christianity

Child abuse & neglect

Religion

The resignation of Justin Welby was absolutely justified — the Archbishop's failure to intervene in Smyth's abuses constituted complicity with his brutal and heinous crimes. However, having taken responsibility for his failings, we must now look ahead to consider who may take Welby's place. There are several impressive, eligible candidates who could soon be leading the Church of England and influencing Christians around the world.

Spectator (UK)

Who will be the next Archbishop of Canterbury?

Welby's undignified resignation cannot merely be skirted over with dialogue about a potential successor. This latest series of events highlights the Church of England's dwindling status in modern society, and the ousting and moral condemnation of it's most senior figurehead may come to be the nail in the coffin for the CoE's influence in an increasingly agnostic world.

The fall of Justin Welby

There's a 50% chance that at least 21% of the global population will identify as "religiously unaffiliated" in 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UK: Archbishop Justin Welby Resigns Over Church Abuse Cover-up

UK: Archbishop FacesJustin ResignationWelby CallsResigns Over Church Abuse Cover-up

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