Mon Jan 06 11:45:37 UTC 2025: ## Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns After Abuse Cover-Up Investigation
**London, January 6, 2025** – Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned from his post, effective immediately, following an independent investigation into his handling of historical child sexual abuse allegations. The 251-page Makin Review found that Archbishop Welby failed to report the abuse perpetrated by late attorney John Smyth to authorities in 2013, despite being aware of the crimes. Smyth, who died in 2018, was found to have abused approximately 30 boys and young men in the UK and 85 in Africa.
Welby’s resignation, announced in November and finalized today, follows a period of intense criticism. His initial refusal to step down sparked widespread anger over a perceived lack of accountability within the Church of England’s highest echelons. The report highlights that a culture of prioritizing alleged perpetrators over victims allowed abusers to operate within the Church for years.
The Archbishop’s departure comes amidst a broader reckoning with widespread historical sexual abuse within the Church of England. A 2022 report by the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse similarly highlighted a culture that enabled abuse.
As the symbolic head of the Anglican Communion, a global body comprising over 85 million members across 165 countries, Archbishop Welby’s resignation marks a significant moment for the institution. His official duties will be delegated to the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.
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