The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the most senior figure in the Anglican Church after King Charles III, has announced his resignation, after admitting his mismanagement in a child abuse case, hidden for decades and which caused at least a hundred victims. the United Kingdom and Africa. “I believe that leaving is best for the Church of England, which I deeply love and have been honored to serve,” he announced.
In a statement released by Lambeth Palace (headquarters of the Church of England), Welby admits that the externally commissioned report “has exposed the long conspiracy of silence over the appalling abuse of John Smyth”, a Christian lawyer today deceased. , who abused more than a hundred children in the UK and Africa, and who was covered up by the Church of England.
The audit points out that Welby himself, who knew the attacker, did not act appropriately. “Opportunities were lost to establish whether he continued to pose an abusive threat in South Africa due to the inaction of senior church officials,” the inquiry concludes.
“When I was informed in 2013 and informed that the police had been notified, I mistakenly believed that an appropriate resolution would follow,” acknowledges Welby, who admits that “I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the period long and traumatic period between 2013 and 2013. 2024.”
“I hope this decision clearly shows how much the Church of England understands the need for change and our deep commitment to creating a safer Church. “In resigning, I do so with the pain of all victims and survivors of abuse,” concludes the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Francis’ ally for reunification
Welby’s resignation is a major blow to the Anglican Communion, as well as to ecumenical work. The Archbishop of Canterbury was one of Pope Francis’ main supporters of a return to the unity of Christian faiths.
Pressure on Welby has increased since Thursday, when the independent report found that, at least since 2013, the prelate “could and should have” formally informed British and South African authorities and failed to do so. Indeed, some Anglican prelates, such as the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, have described his situation as “untenable”, demanding his resignation after having “lost the confidence of his clergy”.
At first, Welby admitted that he “thought about” resigning, but decided against it, although pressure led him to announce his retirement. Welby’s resignation comes amid widespread historical sexual abuse in the Church of England, to the point where several reports have called the Church of England “a place where abusers could hide.”
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