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Archbishop Welby Resigns Amid Abuse Scandal
Archbishop Justin Welby resigns after failing to report a serial abuser who preyed on over 100 children and young men at Christian camps.
English
United States
Human Rights ViolationsUkInvestigationResignationAbuseScandalChurch
Church Of EnglandAnglican ChurchChannel 4 TelevisionMakin Review
Justin WelbyJohn SmythStephen CottrellKeir Starmer
- Why did Archbishop Justin Welby resign?
- Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned after an independent investigation revealed his failure to report a serial abuser, John Smyth, who harmed over 100 boys and men at Christian camps.
- What were the reactions to Welby's resignation?
- Welby's resignation was met with mixed reactions; some saw it as the right thing to do given the severity of the situation and the calls for his resignation, while others pointed to the broader systemic issues within the Church.
- What broader issues did the Makin Review highlight beyond Welby's actions?
- The Makin Review highlighted not only Welby's failure to act but also a broader culture within the Church that minimized or ignored the abuse allegations, leading to significant harm for numerous victims.
- What did the Makin Review reveal about Welby's knowledge of John Smyth's abuse?
- The Makin Review found that Welby learned about Smyth's abuse in 2013 but didn't alert authorities until 2017, when police launched an investigation prompted by a Channel 4 report. He acknowledged personal and institutional responsibility for this failure.
- What was the nature of John Smyth's abuse and what did the review find about the Church's response?
- The report detailed Smyth's horrific physical and sexual abuse, stating that the Church of England knew about Smyth "at the highest level" from 2013 and should have reported him. The investigation also revealed a potential cover-up in 1982.