Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby who presided over the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced his resignation amid pressure over serial incidents of sexual and physical abuse that he did not act on even after knowing them. Pressure on Welby intensified, and clergy members launched a petition calling for his resignation. The sex abuse allegations concern John Smyth, an attorney who abused teenage boys and young men for over five decades. Smyth died in 2018 and was never held to account for his crimes.
Justin Welby is a vocal critic of Trump who likened Donald Trump to fascism.
Justin Welby — who as head of the church also presided over the coronation of King Charles III and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II — said he is stepping down over the revolting crimes of then-church-camp operator John Smyth.
Justin Welby — who as head of the church also presided over the coronation of King Charles III and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II — said he is stepping down over the revolting crimes of then-church-camp operator John Smyth.
What is the sex scandal?
As many as 130 boys and young men in Britain and Africa are believed to have been sexually abused by Smyth, who operated children’s camps connected to the Church of England, which Welby has led since 2013. “When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow,” said Welby,
“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatizing period between 2013 and 2024,” the cleric said.
Welby initially said he would not resign but then pressure mounted on him over the weekend.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he respects the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s decision to resign “over his handling of a child abuse scandal”, his spokesperson says. “His thoughts first and foremost remain with all the victims,” the spokesperson added.
(With agency inputs)
