The Church of England finds itself embroiled in turmoil as Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby faces mounting pressure to resign in the wake of a damning report exposing the church’s mishandling of notorious serial abuser John Smyth. The scathing independent review, released last week, revealed a disturbing pattern of cover-ups and inaction that allowed Smyth to continue his reign of terror, preying on young boys in the UK and later in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Victims Demand Accountability, PM Refuses to Back Welby
As outrage over the church’s failings reaches a boiling point, victims and clergy alike are calling for Welby to step down in a show of solidarity and accountability. Andrew Morse, one of Smyth’s many victims, believes the archbishop’s admission of not doing enough since learning of the abuse in 2013 confirms his complicity in the cover-up. “Justin Welby, along with countless other Anglican church members, were part of a cover-up about the abuse,” Morse asserted in a BBC Radio 4 interview.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking from the Cop29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, refused to directly back the embattled archbishop, instead emphasizing the gravity of the allegations and the church’s abject failure to protect the victims. “Let me be clear: of what I know of the allegations, they are clearly horrific in relation to this particular case, both in their scale and their content,” Starmer declared. “My thoughts, as they are in all of these issues, are with the victims here who have obviously been failed very, very badly.”
Clergy Join Chorus of Resignation Calls
The growing clamor for Welby’s resignation has spread beyond the ranks of the victims, with prominent clergy members adding their voices to the chorus. Stephen Cherry, the dean of chapel at King’s College, Cambridge and a former canon of Durham Cathedral, minced no words in his assessment of the situation. “I think he really needs to now tender his resignation and allow there to be significant change,” Cherry told the BBC.
Helen-Ann Hartley, the bishop of Newcastle, echoed these sentiments, declaring Welby’s position untenable and calling for a line to be drawn. “The archbishop’s position is untenable, and he should resign,” Hartley asserted. “This is a watershed moment for the Church of England, and we must take decisive action to restore trust and protect the vulnerable.”
Welby Apologizes but Clings to Power
Amid the firestorm of criticism, Welby issued a profound apology for his “shameful” decision not to act on reports of Smyth’s abuse when he learned of them in 2013. The archbishop acknowledged considering resignation but ultimately chose to remain in his position, a move that has only fueled the outrage and sense of betrayal felt by many within the church and beyond.
“I apologize profoundly both for my own failures and omissions, and for the wickedness, concealment and abuse by the church more widely,” Welby said in a statement released by Lambeth Palace. Despite his contrition, the archbishop made it clear he does not intend to resign, a stance that has only served to deepen the divide between the church leadership and those demanding accountability.
Church at a Crossroads
As the scandal continues to unfold, the Church of England finds itself at a critical juncture, with its credibility and moral authority hanging in the balance. The failure to protect the most vulnerable from predators like Smyth has exposed deep-seated systemic issues within the institution, and many believe that only sweeping changes – starting with Welby’s resignation – can begin to restore the broken trust.
For the victims, the pain and trauma inflicted by Smyth and compounded by the church’s inaction are wounds that may never fully heal. They seek not only justice but also a genuine commitment from the church to confront its past, hold those responsible accountable, and create a safer, more transparent future for all.
As the pressure mounts and the calls for change grow louder, all eyes are on Archbishop Welby and the Church of England. Will the archbishop heed the cries of the victims and the demands of his own clergy, stepping aside to make way for the transformative change the church so desperately needs? Or will he cling to power, risking further damage to the institution’s already tarnished reputation?
The coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining the fate of the archbishop and the direction of the Church of England. One thing is certain: the status quo is no longer an option. The time for action, accountability, and healing is now, and the world is watching to see if the church will rise to the challenge or continue to be mired in the shadows of its shameful past.
