BREAKING: Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, resigns over abuse cover-up scandal
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, announced his resignation following the release of the independent Makin review, which revealed that the Church of England had covered up sexual abuse by a barrister, John Smyth QC.
In his resignation statement, Welby said, “Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.” He went on to explain that he had to take “personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.”
The Makin review, published just last week, exposed the extensive abuse Smyth inflicted on children and young men, including physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual attacks. It also criticized Welby for failing to take appropriate action when he was first made aware of Smyth’s crimes in 2013. The report noted that Smyth might have been brought to justice if Welby had formally reported the case to the police at that time.
Smyth, who died in 2018 while under investigation by Hampshire Police, was never held accountable for his actions.
In his statement, Welby acknowledged his role in the Church’s failure to respond to the victims, saying, “The report has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.”
The resignation follows widespread calls for Welby to step down after the publication of the review, which has sparked anger and heartbreak among the Church’s members and victims of Smyth’s abuse.
