The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has resigned from his role as the most senior bishop within the Church of England after facing mounting pressure to do so.
The report found that the Archbishop of Canterbury and other church officers had failed to report the abuse of boys and young men by a barrister and senior member of a Christian charity to the police.
The perpetrator of the abuse, John Smyth was accused of attacking dozens of boys.
In his resignation statement, Justin Welby, 68, remarked that he had “believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow” after he was informed that the abuse had been reported to the police in 2013.
He also takes “personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.”
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He reveals that the past few days have renewed his long felt and profound shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.
To him, stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church and promises to continue his commitment to the victims.
The report that led to the Archbishop’s resignation, The Makin Review, exposes the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth in the UK, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
John Smyth, however died in 2018 before he could face prosecution for his crimes.
Survivors of John Smyth’s abuse are calling for more resignations within the Church of England.
SOURCE: Afote Asomdwoe Laryea
