The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, primate of the Church from Englandannounced Tuesday his resignation amid pressure from bishops for failing to act when in 2013 he learned of a serious case of child abuse within this communion. Welby, spiritual leader of Anglicans worldwide, said in a statement that. assumes responsibility for his administration and indicated that his departure will be scheduled taking into account his institutional and constitutional obligations. He also acknowledged that there was “a conspiracy of silence” to protect the aggressor.
The hitherto archbishop, who had previously ruled out resigning from office, explained that, as is protocol, asked permission to do so to the king Charles IIIthe (non-religious) head of the Church of England, the majority Church in the United Kingdom. In his note, Welby argued that when he took up the post in 2013 he was informed that the Police were aware of alleged abuses committed over decades by Christian camp leader John Smyth, and that he “mistakenly thought there would be a resolution.”.
Sexual, physical and psychological abuse
“It is clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and traumatic period between 2013 and 2024,” when an internal investigation exposed the errors committed by the parties and their individual responsibility, he said. The Anglican leader acknowledged that the so-called Makin report, presented last week, exposed “the conspiracy of silence long maintained about John Smyth’s egregious abuses.”
The document concluded that the Archbishop made possible by his inaction the continuation of the crimes allegedly committed by the Canadian lawyer, who is alleged to have sexually, physically and psychologically abused more than a hundred minors in his role as a Christian camp leader. Smyth, who is believed to have died in South Africa in 2018 while under investigation. by the British Police, was the most prolific child molester associated with the Church of England, the cradle of Anglicanism in the world.
“I hope my decision makes it clear that the Church of England understands the need for change and our deep commitment to creating an safer church“Welby, who improved child protection guidelines during his tenure, said.
Thousands of people signed an online petition coordinated by members of the synod or assembly of the Anglican faith calling for the archbishop’s immediate resignation, and several senior officials joined the pressure in recent days. As the highest Anglican authority, Welby officiated at the coronation of Charles III in May 2023 and the weddings of Prince William and Prince Henry.