In a shocking turn of events, Archbishop Justin Welby has announced his resignation following a recently released report exposing a cover-up of child abuse within the Church of England. The report reveals that Welby was aware of the allegations in 2013 but believed justice would be served. However, the abuser, John Smyth, was not brought to justice before his death in 2018. This resignation comes after one of Smyth's victims spoke out about the beatings he endured. Learn more about the scandal and the process for selecting the new leader of the Church of England in this comprehensive report by BBC's Matt Spivey.
Archbishop Justin Welby Resigns Amid Child Abuse Cover-Up Scandal
In a stunning turn of events, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the Church of England, has announced his resignation following the release of a damning report that exposed a decades-long cover-up of child abuse within the church.
Background
The scandal centers around John Smyth, a former Anglican priest who was convicted of sexual abuse in 2014. However, the report revealed that Welby and other senior church officials were aware of allegations against Smyth as early as 2013 but failed to take appropriate action.
Smyth, who died in 2018, was accused of beating and sexually abusing boys in the 1970s and 1980s. One of his victims, Matthew Ineson, spoke out publicly in 2022 about the horrific abuse he endured, prompting an independent investigation into the church's handling of the allegations.
Report Findings
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report concluded that the Church of England had "a culture of secrecy and deference," which allowed abuse to go unchecked. The report specifically criticized Welby for not taking action to remove Smyth from ministry after learning of the allegations against him.
Welby's Resignation
Following the release of the report, Welby issued a statement expressing "deep shame and sorrow" over the church's failure to protect children. He announced his resignation, effective March 31, 2023, stating that he believed it was "the right thing to do."
Selection of New Leader
The Church of England has initiated the process of selecting a new Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has been appointed as interim leader. The appointment of a permanent successor is expected to take several months.
FAQs
1. Why did Welby resign? Welby resigned after it was revealed that he was aware of allegations against John Smyth in 2013 but did not take action to remove him from ministry.
2. What was the extent of the cover-up? The report found that the Church of England had a "culture of secrecy and deference" that allowed Smyth to continue abusing boys despite allegations against him.
3. What happened to Smyth? Smyth was convicted of sexual abuse in 2014 and died in 2018.
4. What is the IICSA report? The IICSA report is an independent investigation into the Church of England's handling of child sexual abuse allegations.
5. Who will replace Welby? The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has been appointed as interim leader. The appointment of a permanent successor is expected to take several months.
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