Archbishop Justin Welby's tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury concludes today, a day shadowed by ongoing criticism surrounding his handling of a Church of England abuse scandal. His departure, effective at midnight, follows a damning report that exposed a "conspiracy of silence" within the institution.
The Makin review highlighted significant failures in safeguarding, suggesting that a prolific abuser, John Smyth, might have been prosecuted had the Archbishop reported him to police in 2013. Smyth, who died in 2018, allegedly subjected hundreds of boys and young men to abuse across multiple countries over five decades.
Welby acknowledged that the review found he personally failed to ensure the case was thoroughly investigated. He maintains that he had no prior knowledge of the abuse. Despite his initial resignation statement expressing sorrow, a subsequent speech in the House of Lords drew criticism for perceived insensitivity toward victims, leading to further public condemnation.
This incident is not the only recent controversy surrounding the Church. The Children's Society declined a Christmas donation from Welby, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the charity's values. This, combined with calls for Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell's resignation, underlines the profound impact of the abuse scandal on the Church's reputation.
Moving forward, Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, will take on many of Welby's official responsibilities, alongside the Bishop of London and the Bishop of Dover. The selection process for Welby's successor is anticipated to be lengthy, with a potential announcement expected in the autumn.
