By Rob Harris
London: The Archbishop of Canterbury is facing calls to resign after being accused of not doing more to report a man thought be one of the most prolific child abusers in the Church of England’s ranks.
Members of the church’s ruling body, the General Synod, are demanding Justin Welby – the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide – quit after a review heavily criticised the church for failing to stop John Smyth, a prominent barrister who ran Christian youth camps.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has apologised for failing to ensure allegations against John Smyth were “energetically investigated” in 2013.Credit: AP
Smyth is described as the “most prolific serial abuser” in the Church of England’s history, having subjected as many as 130 victims to traumatic physical, sexual and psychological attacks over 40 years in the UK and in Africa. He died in Cape Town in 2018 while under investigation by police.
A report detailing Smyth’s abuse was presented to some church leaders in 1982, but no report was made to the police.
An independent review by Keith Makin, a former director of social services, said Welby “could and should” have reported the case to authorities when details were presented to him in 2013.
The review said there was no evidence Welby, who also volunteered at the holiday camps where the abuse took place in the late 1970s, had “maintained any significant contact” with the barrister in later years. But it found he had shown a “distinct lack of curiosity” about allegations when they surfaced.
Welby and King Charles last year. The archbishop is close to the King.Credit: AP
Welby, 68, has apologised for failing to ensure the allegations were “energetically investigated” but said he “does not intend to resign” because he had no prior knowledge of the allegations.
Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley said Welby’s resignation would not “solve the safeguarding problem”, but it would “be a very clear indication that a line has been drawn”.
The late Church of England official John Smyth.Credit: Channel 4 News
She told BBC Radio: “I think, sadly, his position is untenable. So I think he should resign.”
Giles Fraser, a vicar and regular newspaper columnist, also told the BBC: “I think it seems increasingly unlikely that the archbishop of Canterbury can survive in post, given the growing chorus of calls for his resignation from amongst his own clergy.”
But others have warned against treating Welby as a “scapegoat”, noting that some church officials knew much more than Welby did about Smyth’s abuse for decades and covered it up.
Welby, a close friend of King Charles, is a leading voice on social issues in British society. He has been a prominent critic of short-term lenders, an advocate for action on climate change and previously slammed the “cruelty” of the then-Conservative government’s asylum policy.
In a statement, Welby said he was “deeply sorry that this abuse happened” and “sorry that concealment by many people who were fully aware of the abuse over many years meant that John Smyth was able to abuse overseas and died before he ever faced justice”.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.