Wed Nov 13 10:24:03 UTC 2024: ## Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns Amid Church Abuse Scandal
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has resigned after a damning report revealed he failed to act on allegations of sexual abuse by a prominent lawyer, John Smyth, despite knowing about them in 2013. The report, led by former social services director Keith Makin, found that Smyth abused over 100 boys and young men at Christian summer camps in the UK and Africa over decades.
The report, titled “The Makin Review,” concluded that Welby, who had volunteered at the same camps in the 1970s, should have reported Smyth to the police when he became aware of the allegations. While Welby claimed he had no suspicion of the abuse before 2013, the report found that the church knew about Smyth’s actions at the highest level since at least 1982.
The review also found that Smyth was allowed to leave the UK after the church failed to expose his abuse in the 1980s, allowing him to continue abusing children abroad. He died in 2018 while under investigation by British police.
Welby’s resignation comes after intense pressure from victims, clergy, and members of the public who called for his removal. While he initially resisted calls to step down, citing a need to address the issue of abuse within the church, public opinion shifted after Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to publicly support him.
The Archbishop’s resignation is seen as a necessary step in addressing the scandal but many believe it is not enough. Survivors of abuse have called for a deeper cultural shift within the Church of England to ensure such events never happen again.
The selection process for a new Archbishop of Canterbury will now begin. The Crown Nominations Commission will submit two names to the Prime Minister, who will then advise the monarch on the appointment. It could take months to fill the position.
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