Church of England Leader Resigns Amidst Shocking Sex Abuse Scandal
The leader of the Church of England, Justin Welby, announced his resignation on Tuesday, following a shocking sex abuse scandal. The decision came after a report into the Church’s poor handling of physical and sexual abuse dating back to the 1970s. Welby hopes his resignation will emphasize the Church’s understanding of the need for change and its commitment to creating a safer institution.
Details of the Sex Abuse Scandal
The report revealed that British lawyer, John Smyth, subjected more than 100 boys and young men to severe physical and sexual abuse over a span of 40 years. The victims endured hundreds of strokes of the cane, with some provided with diapers to soak up the bleeding. Smyth relocated to Africa in 1984, where he continued the abuse until his death in 2018.
The Anglican Church became aware of the horrors as early as 2013. Welby also learned about the allegations around the same time when he became archbishop. An investigation could have been carried out in 2013, which could have led to Smyth serving his sentence before his death.
Welby’s Statement and Apology
Welby apologized for his omissions, asserting he knew nothing about the allegations before 2013. He expressed deep shame at the historic failings in safety of the Church of England. The report concluded that Welby had failed in his personal and moral responsibility to conduct an investigation into the abuse.
Challenges for the Next Archbishop
Welby’s tenure spanned a decade of great turmoil as he managed conflicts over gay rights and women clergy between liberal dioceses, mainly in North America and Britain, and conservative ones, mainly in Africa. The next archbishop will face the challenge of maintaining the unity of the Anglican community and increasing the number of people attending Mass, which has fallen by 20% in the UK since 2019.
