London
CNN
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The Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior cleric in the Church of England, is under mounting pressure to resign following a damning report accusing him of failing to take adequate action against a sadistic child molester.

A review of the church’s handling of “horrific” abuse This murder by John Smyth threw his position into doubt after Archbishop Justin Welby found that upon becoming aware of this incident he “had a personal and moral responsibility to pursue this case further”. He knew “abuse at the highest level”.

Now three members of the General Synod, the governing body of the Church of England, started a petition He called for Welby’s immediate withdrawal.

In addition to being head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury acts as the “first among equals” leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church in the United States.

The investigation into Welby focuses on what he knew about the allegations against Smyth, who is now dead. The former British barrister is considered the worst abuser associated with the Church of England, having carried out “prolific, brutal and horrific” physical, psychological and sexual attacks on 130 boys and young men, according to the Makin Report. , released on November 7th. The report details abuse dating back to the 1970s until Smyth’s death in 2018; There were frequent brutal beatings, with even members of his own family among the victims.

The independent review commissioned by the church found that although Welby “did not know the extreme seriousness of the abuse… it is likely that he had at least some level of knowledge that John Smyth was concerned”. “It is not possible to establish whether Justin Welby knew of the seriousness of the violations in the UK before 2013,” he added.

But the Bishop of Newcastle told the BBC on Monday that Welby’s position was untenable. Helen-Ann Hartley said it was difficult for the church to continue to have a moral voice when we couldn’t get our own house in order.

One of the petition organizers, Marcus Walker, vicar of St. Bartholomew the Great in London, told CNN he “cannot imagine” how the archbishop could hold the post and claimed Welby had “lost the trust of the clergy.” ”

Lambeth Palace, the archbishop’s headquarters, said in a statement on Monday that Welby “has no intention of resigning” and “deeply apologizes for both his own failures and negligence and the wider misdeeds, concealment and abuse of the church.” .”

After Channel 4 News reported on Smyth’s abuse in 2017, the Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson, came forward as a victim and said he had been the victim of abuse. “Violent, excruciating and shocking.” He takes a beating on Smyth’s hands.

Smyth died in South Africa aged 77 while under investigation by UK police, but the church’s review found there had been a “missed opportunity” in 2012 and 2013 for the highest levels of the church to “properly” report him to law enforcement. Failure to do so “may have resulted in an ongoing and avoidable conservation threat,” the report concludes.

Smyth, who is accused of abusing at his home, identified several of his victims through evangelical Christian summer camps he helped organize for students from Britain’s elite private colleges in the 1970s and 1980s. Although Smyth requested ordination from the Church of England, he was refused and moved to Zimbabwe in 1984. The report estimated he abused 85 to 100 boys ages 13 to 17 in Africa.

The case is particularly sensitive for Welby, who was educated at Eton College, England’s most famous private school, and was working at summer camps where he met Smyth. He later exchanged Christmas cards with Smyth and donated small amounts of money to his “missions” in Zimbabwe, according to the report.

Some church officials had been made aware of Smyth’s abuses through a report into his activities in 1982, but Welby, who was ordained in 1993, insisted he was unaware of any abuse until 2013.

The archbishop admits he “personally failed” to ensure that Smyth was “energetically investigated” at the time he was briefed, but insists he plans to remain in office. He also apologized for not meeting Smyth’s victims sooner.

During his time in office, Welby demanded accountability from those accused of mishandling the abuse, including his predecessor. Lord Carey, and previous Bishop of Lincoln.

There will be no historical precedent for the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign over child abuse, and there is no mechanism to remove an archbishop.