Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby Quits Over Church Abuse Scandal
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has shocked the nation by announcing his resignation following a damning report on the Church of England’s botched handling of sexual abuse claims against the late barrister John Smyth QC.
Decades of Abuse Ignored
The Makin review, published last week, revealed that Smyth subjected up to 130 boys and young men across the UK and Africa to horrific physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse over five decades. Despite serious allegations emerging years ago, the Church delayed reporting the abuse to police, allowing Smyth to evade justice before he died in 2018.
The report slammed the Church’s failure to act sooner and suggested that if Welby had alerted authorities a decade ago, Smyth could have been prosecuted.
Welby Expresses Regret, Bows Out
“Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign,” Welby said in a statement. He expressed deep sorrow for the survivors and their families and promised the Church would commit to transparency and reform.
Church Faces Wrath, Vows Reform
Hampshire Police led the investigation into Smyth’s crimes, which sadly concluded only after his death at 75 in Cape Town. The harrowing revelations have rocked the Church, triggering fierce criticism over safeguarding failures and institutional cover-ups.
Welby’s resignation marks a turning point. The Church of England now faces intense pressure to rebuild trust by improving how abuse allegations are handled and ensuring victims get the justice and support they deserve.
