Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced his resignation on Nov. 12, 2024, saying he takes "personal and institutional responsibility" for the misleading of a number of high --profile abuse cases in the Anglican Church since taking the reigns in 2013, the Catholic World Report website reports today (Nov. 16, 2024).
"I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down, I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse," Welby said in a statement.
Although not accused of abuse himself, Welby was criticized for his response to a number of abuse cases within the church he led. Calls for Welby's resignation reached a fever pitch in recent days, led by victims of a notorious Anglican serial sexual abuser, John Smyth.
A prominent attorney who volunteered at Christian summer camps in the 1970s and 1989s, the deceased Smyth was later found to have committed physical abuse and psychological coercion against over 100 boys and young men across multiple countries.
In 2013, after taking office as archbishop, Welby was verbally informed of Smyth's abuse, but said he mistakenly believed that police and local authorities had been informed and chose to take no further action, the report says.
Many Anglican Christians believe that Justin Welby had a personal and moral responsibility to pursue this further, regardless of the policies at play at the time required.
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