Review Finds Justin Welby Missed Opportunity to Bring ‘Prolific’ Abuser to Justice
The Archbishop of Canterbury ‘could and should’ have reported abuse connected to the Church of England by late barrister John Smyth to police in 2013, as revealed by a recent review.
According to the review, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby failed to report the prolific abuser of boys and young men associated with the Church of England, John Smyth, to the police a decade ago, which might have prevented further abuse and led to justice being served.
Smyth’s abuse affected up to 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa, causing lasting psychological harm through traumatic attacks.
The report pointed out that Welby “could and should” have reported the allegations to the police in 2013, potentially stopping Smyth’s ongoing abuse.
Despite the church’s apology for the abuse, Smyth was never held accountable due to the cover-up within the Church of England.
Welby Considered Resigning
Welby, who knew Smyth from Christian camps in the 1970s, admitted his failure to investigate the abuse after it came to light in 2013.
The report highlighted missed opportunities to bring Smyth to justice earlier and prevent further abuse due to inaction by senior church officials.
Welby expressed deep regret for the abuse and the church’s failure to address it promptly, promising changes in handling abuse cases moving forward.
‘Personal Failure’
The report outlined how Smyth’s criminal acts of abuse could have been prevented with timely reporting to the police, calling the church’s responses a cover-up.
Despite apologies from church leaders, the report emphasized the need for accountability and proactive safeguarding measures to prevent future abuse within the Church of England.
