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Welby Resigns Amidst Church Abuse Scandal
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigns after a report exposes the Church of England's cover-up of decades of child sexual abuse.
French
France
UkResignationScandalAbuseChurchCover-Up
Church Of EnglandChannel 4
Justin WelbyJohn SmythKing Charles IiiQueen Elizabeth Ii
- Why did Archbishop Justin Welby resign?
- Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, resigned due to a report detailing the Church of England's mishandling of physical and sexual abuse cases involving over 100 children and young men.
- What was Welby's response to the report's findings?
- Welby stated he should take responsibility for the delay in addressing the abuse and expressed deep shame for the Church's failings. He felt his resignation was in the best interest of the Church.
- What was the nature of the abuse detailed in the report?
- The abuse was perpetrated by lawyer John Smyth, who used theological justifications to beat young boys with a cane. The report found that the Church was aware of the abuse since the 1980s but covered it up.
- What criticisms are leveled against Welby concerning his handling of the situation?
- The report, published Thursday, November 9th, 2023, criticizes Welby for not reporting the abuse to authorities in 2013, when he became Archbishop. Smyth died in 2018, and the matter gained attention only after a Channel 4 documentary in 2017.
- What is the broader context of this event, considering previous allegations against the Church of England?
- This incident further damages the Church of England's reputation, following a previous report four years prior that revealed a culture enabling sexual abuse perpetrators to hide from justice. 390 individuals linked to the Church have been convicted of sexual offenses since 1940.