Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns Following Abuse Cover-Up Scandal

November 12 —Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Church of England, Justin Welby, announced his resignation Tuesday after an investigation concluded that he failed to report serious abuse allegations against a volunteer leader when he first learned of them in 2013.

Welby, who also serves as the spiritual leader for the worldwide Anglican Communion, stated that he believes his decision to step down is “in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve.”

The resignation follows intense pressure from church leaders and the release of an independent review on November 7, which detailed Welby’s failure to act on information regarding abuse by John Smyth, a prominent attorney. Smyth, who was involved in Christian summer camps in the UK, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, was found to have physically, sexually, and spiritually abused boys and young men over several decades.

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The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, joined other leaders in calling for Welby’s resignation, labelling his position as “untenable.” On November 11, Hartley underscored that the archbishop had “lost the confidence of his clergy,” a sentiment spurred members of the Church of England’s General Synod, its national assembly, to circulate a petition advocating for Welby’s resignation.

The outcry from Smyth’s victims has been robust, with survivors speaking out about the abuse they endured. Smyth reportedly punished campers for various “sins” such as “pride,” making sexual remarks, masturbation, or looking at girls, according to the independent report.

He used a cane to administer severe beatings, often with the victims at least partially undressed. The report documented brutal acts, with punishments recorded as 100 strokes for masturbation, 400 for pride, and even 800 strokes in one instance for an unspecified “fall.”

The abuse remained undisclosed until 2017, one year before Smyth’s death, and he was never extradited to England for prosecution.

Andrew Morse, a victim of Smyth who suffered repeated abuse over five years, described Welby’s resignation as a potential turning point for the Church of England to begin addressing historical abuse cases more responsibly. “This is a chance to repair the damage caused by years of mishandling these cases,” Morse commented.

The resignation also reignites criticism highlighted in a 2022 report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which found that a culture of deference to church authority, reluctance to discuss sexuality, and a pattern of protecting alleged perpetrators created an environment in which abuse could go unchecked. The report accused the Church of England of providing more support to suspected abusers than to victims, making it “a place where abusers could hide.”

Archbishop Welby, who held the highest role in the Church of England and was regarded as “first among equals” among Anglican leaders worldwide, was informed of Smyth’s abuses in August 2013. However, despite learning of the grave nature of Smyth’s actions shortly after he became Archbishop of Canterbury, he did not report the incidents to the police.

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Police investigations were underway, and plans were in place to deport Smyth when he passed away in 2018, but his death prevented any legal reckoning.

With more than 85 million members across 165 countries, the Anglican Communion is one of the largest Christian denominations worldwide. Welby’s resignation marks a significant moment for the church, as it faces growing calls for systemic reform and accountability in handling abuse cases among its clergy and volunteers.