Justin Welby, head of the Anglican Church, has resigned following an independent review revealing the Church’s failure to act on abuse by British lawyer John Smyth, who led Christian camps in the 1970s and 1980s.
The review found that senior church officials, including Welby, covered up Smyth’s abuse of over 100 boys and young men. Despite knowing of the allegations since 2013, Welby admitted his response was inadequate.
Victims and church leaders criticized the Church’s response, with survivor Andrew Morse calling it a cover-up. Welby’s resignation signals a crisis of trust in the Church as it confronts its history of abuse scandals.
Archbishop Justin Welby, head of the global Anglican Church, has resigned following an inquiry into allegations of child abuse involving senior church leaders.
