BREAKING NEWSArchbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby says it is clear that I had to stand down over Church of England failings in abuse case
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said it is clear that I had to stand down over the Church of England failings in the John Smyth abuse case.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said it is clear that I had to stand down over the Church of England failings in the John Smyth abuse case.
Mr Welby delivered his final speech in the House of Lords as Archbishop of Canterbury, ahead of quitting over failures in the handling of allegations against serial abuser John Smyth.
Speaking in his valedictory speech in the House of Lords today, he said a head had to roll, following the Makin Review.
Mr Welby said: The reality is that there comes a time if you are technically leading a particular institution or area of responsibility where the shame of what has gone wrong, whether one is personally responsible or not, must require a head to roll.
And there is only, in this case, one head that rolls well enough.
He is the first Archbishop of Canterbury to be forced out of the role after failures meant an abuser was never brought to justice.
He continued to say that safeguarding in the Church of England is a completely different picture to the past, but that it was clear he had to quit following the Makin Review.
He told the House of Lords: The reality is that the safeguarding and care of children and vulnerable adults in the Church of England today is - thanks to thousands and tens of thousands of people across the Church, particularly in parishes, in parish safeguarding officers - is a completely different picture to the past.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said it is clear that I had to stand down over the Church of England failings
Speaking in his valedictory speech in the House of Lords today, he said a head had to roll
Mr Welby delivered his final speech in the House of Lords as Archbishop of Canterbury, ahead of quitting over failures in the handling of allegations against serial abuser John Smyth (above)
However, when I look back at the last 50 or 60 years, not only through the eyes of the Makin report, however one takes ones view of personal responsibility, it is clear that I had to stand down, and it is for that reason that I do so.
In an unprecedented step, Mr Welby said on November 11 he had sought permission from the King to step down in the best interests of the Church.
His resignation was tended after days of pressure from senior clergy and came after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer twice failed to back him, saying the victims had been failed very, very badly.
His resignation came after a long-awaited review last week concluded that barrister Smyths abhorrent serial abuse of more than 100 boys and young men was covered up within the Church.
The Makin review also criticised the Archbishop for showing a distinct lack of curiosity after learning of Smyths abuse in 2013, which meant the abuser was never brought to justice before his death in 2018.
In a statement from Lambeth Palace, Mr Welby previously admitted it was clear he must take personal and institutional responsibility.
Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty the King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury, he said. The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.
When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow. It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.
It is likely to be some time before a successor is announced. The statement added that Archbishop Welby will continue to carry out constitutional and Church responsibilities until exact dates for a hand-over are confirmed.
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