apnews.com
Welby Faces Resignation Calls Over Abuse Case
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby faces calls for resignation over his handling of a child abuse case.
English
United States
Human Rights ViolationsUkInvestigationResignationScandalAbuseChurch
Church Of EnglandAnglican CommunionGeneral SynodHampshire PoliceChannel 4 Television
Justin WelbyJohn SmythHelen-Ann Hartley
- What is Archbishop Welby's current stance on the situation?
- Welby has acknowledged his failure to ensure the allegations were pursued more energetically but maintains he had no prior knowledge of the abuse and does not intend to resign.
- What did the Makin Review reveal about John Smyth's actions?
- The Makin Review, a 251-page report, detailed how John Smyth abused approximately 30 boys and young men in the UK and 85 in Africa over five decades. The report criticizes Welby for not acting more decisively upon learning of the abuse.
- What is the current status of the petition against Archbishop Welby?
- A petition calling for Welby's resignation has garnered over 1,800 signatures. Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley also publicly stated that Welby's position is untenable due to his handling of the Smyth case.
- What is the main reason for the calls for Archbishop Justin Welby's resignation?
- The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is facing calls to resign after an independent review found he failed to report the serial abuse of children by John Smyth to the authorities in 2013.
- When did Church officials first learn about John Smyth's abuse, and what was their response?
- Church officials first learned of Smyth's abuse in 1982 but actively covered it up, preventing the information from coming to light. Smyth continued his abuse until his death in 2018.