Former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby Discusses Child Abuse Allegations
Welby expresses regret over handling of allegations against serial abuser John Smyth following a damning report.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby stated he was "overwhelmed" by the volume of child sex abuse allegations he encountered, particularly concerning serial abuser John Smyth, in light of a recent report.
Welby resigned from his position in November 2022 after findings indicated that he had failed to adequately follow up on reports regarding Smyth, who is considered one of the most prolific abusers associated with the Church of England.
The Makin Review, released on November 7, 2022, reported that Smyth had inflicted trauma on approximately 130 boys and young men over a span of five decades across multiple countries, including the UK and Africa.
The report suggested that had Welby formally reported the allegations to authorities in 2013, Smyth could have faced legal consequences for his actions.
In his first interview following his resignation, Welby acknowledged his shortcomings in addressing the allegations, attributing his inaction partly to the overwhelming nature of the issue.
"Every day more cases were coming across the desk that had been in the past, hadn’t been dealt with adequately," he explained, referring to the numerous unaddressed cases of abuse.
Welby emphasized that while he felt overwhelmed, this was a reason for his failure to act but not an excuse.
The allegations against Smyth had drawn significant public attention, and numerous calls for Welby to resign emerged following the Makin Review.
He initially resisted these calls but ultimately announced his resignation on November 12, stating it was in the best interest of the Church of England, which he has served with honor.
In his final speech in the House of Lords on December 5, Welby reflected on the changes in the Church's approach to safeguarding since his tenure, acknowledging the need for his departure.
However, his comments during the speech, which included a lighthearted reference to a historical event, were criticized for being inappropriate in light of the gravity of the abuse allegations.
A specific victim of Smyth expressed his outrage at the speech's tone, describing it as "tone deaf."
Following backlash, Welby issued an apology, clarifying that he did not intend to dismiss the experiences of abuse survivors.
Smyth passed away in 2018 in Cape Town while under investigation by Hampshire Police, and consequently, he was never brought to justice for his numerous acts of abuse, as highlighted by the Makin Review.
Welby resigned from his position in November 2022 after findings indicated that he had failed to adequately follow up on reports regarding Smyth, who is considered one of the most prolific abusers associated with the Church of England.
The Makin Review, released on November 7, 2022, reported that Smyth had inflicted trauma on approximately 130 boys and young men over a span of five decades across multiple countries, including the UK and Africa.
The report suggested that had Welby formally reported the allegations to authorities in 2013, Smyth could have faced legal consequences for his actions.
In his first interview following his resignation, Welby acknowledged his shortcomings in addressing the allegations, attributing his inaction partly to the overwhelming nature of the issue.
"Every day more cases were coming across the desk that had been in the past, hadn’t been dealt with adequately," he explained, referring to the numerous unaddressed cases of abuse.
Welby emphasized that while he felt overwhelmed, this was a reason for his failure to act but not an excuse.
The allegations against Smyth had drawn significant public attention, and numerous calls for Welby to resign emerged following the Makin Review.
He initially resisted these calls but ultimately announced his resignation on November 12, stating it was in the best interest of the Church of England, which he has served with honor.
In his final speech in the House of Lords on December 5, Welby reflected on the changes in the Church's approach to safeguarding since his tenure, acknowledging the need for his departure.
However, his comments during the speech, which included a lighthearted reference to a historical event, were criticized for being inappropriate in light of the gravity of the abuse allegations.
A specific victim of Smyth expressed his outrage at the speech's tone, describing it as "tone deaf."
Following backlash, Welby issued an apology, clarifying that he did not intend to dismiss the experiences of abuse survivors.
Smyth passed away in 2018 in Cape Town while under investigation by Hampshire Police, and consequently, he was never brought to justice for his numerous acts of abuse, as highlighted by the Makin Review.
