-Justin Welby Resigns As Archbishop Over Sexual & Church Abuse
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has resigned from his role, stating he had failed to ensure a proper investigation into allegations of physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps decades ago.
Justin Welby, who is the global head of the Anglican Church, resigned following a review that revealed senior church leaders, including Welby, covered up the abuse of over 100 boys and young men.
His resignation came after criticism from victims and other church leaders.
The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, said, “I think, rightly, people are asking the question: ‘Can we really trust the Church of England to keep us safe?’ And I think the answer at the moment is ‘no.”
Survivor Andrew Morse, who was also abused, called for the resignation of the archbishop. He said;
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“Welby’s admission that in 2013, which is really modern day in comparison to the 1970s and 1980s, that he didn’t do enough, that he wasn’t rigorous… is enough in my mind to confirm that Justin Welby, along with countless other Anglican churchmen, were part of a cover-up about the abuse.”
According to Welby’s resignation letter, he revealed he must take full personal and institutional responsibility for a lack of action on the abuses.
“The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England,” Welby said.
“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse,” he said.
“I am so sorry that in places where these young men, and boys, should have felt safe and where they should have experienced God’s love for them, they were subjected to physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse,” Justin Welby concluded, as he resigns as archbishop of Canterbury.
The 68 year old archbishop, resigned few days after the independent Makin Report fished him out and criticized him over his handling of abuse allegations dating back to the 1970s
