The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has resigned from his position as the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion following an investigation that uncovered his failure to promptly report serial physical abuse by a prominent volunteer. The resignation marks a watershed moment for the Church of England as it grapples with a longstanding culture that has enabled abusers to operate with impunity.
The investigation centered on Welby’s handling of allegations against John Smyth, a lawyer who abused teenage boys and young men at Christian summer camps across Britain, Zimbabwe, and South Africa for over five decades. Despite being made aware of Smyth’s crimes, Welby did not report them to the authorities in a timely manner, a lapse that has drawn widespread outrage and condemnation from victims and church leaders alike.
“I believe that now is an opportunity for him to resign,” said Andrew Morse, a survivor of Smyth’s abuse. “This would be an opportunity for him to stand with the victims of the Smyth abuse and all victims that have not been treated properly by the Church of England in their own abuse cases.”
Welby’s resignation follows a damning 2022 report which found that the Church of England’s culture of deference to priestly authority and a tendency to protect alleged perpetrators over victims had created an environment where abusers could thrive.
