Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has stepped down, following the release of a critical report on prolific child abuser John Smyth, who was linked to the Church of England.
In his resignation statement, Welby acknowledged the report’s findings, which revealed a “long-maintained conspiracy of silence surrounding the horrific abuses committed by John Smyth.”
He shared that in 2013, when he was informed police had been alerted, he had “wrongly assumed that appropriate action would be taken.”
Smyth, who was never brought to justice, passed away in South Africa in 2018.
Initially, after giving the matter “serious thought,” Welby declared last week he would not resign.
However, last Thursday, he issued a new statement, expressing deep regret: “I am profoundly sorry that this abuse took place and that a cover-up by numerous individuals aware of the situation allowed John Smyth to continue his abuses abroad, ultimately passing away without facing…