
abcnews.go.com
Welby Faces Resignation Calls Over Abuse Cover-Up
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby faces intense pressure to resign following an independent review that revealed his failure to report decades of abuse by John Smyth.
English
United States
Human Rights ViolationsUkInvestigationResignationAbuseScandalChurch
Church Of EnglandAnglican CommunionGeneral SynodHampshire PoliceBbc
Justin WelbyJohn SmythHelen-Ann Hartley
- What is Archbishop Welby's response to the calls for his resignation?
- Welby has acknowledged his failure to act more decisively but maintains he had no prior knowledge of the allegations and thus does not intend to resign; however, his statement reiterates his horror at the scale of Smyth's abuse.
- What is the public reaction to Archbishop Welby's handling of the situation?
- A petition calling for Welby's resignation has gained over 1,800 signatures, and a senior cleric, Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley, has publicly stated that his position is untenable.
- What is the main reason behind 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 serial abuse by John Smyth to the police in 2013.
- What were the consequences of the delay in reporting John Smyth's abuse to the authorities?
- The failure to report the abuse in 2013 resulted in a 3.5-year delay in bringing Smyth to justice, potentially allowing more victims to suffer.
- What did the Makin Review reveal about Archbishop Welby's actions concerning John Smyth's abuse?
- The Makin Review, which investigated the abuse, revealed that Welby learned of Smyth's actions in 2013 but did not alert authorities, potentially allowing further abuse and preventing a criminal conviction.