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Archbishop resigns after report of child abuse in England 

Days after a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has tendered his resigned, stressing that as he is steppong down, he is doing so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.

In his resignation statement, Justin Welby says the report “exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth”

He says when he was told in 2013 that police had been notified, “I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow”

“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024,” he says.

Smyth was not brought to justice before his death in South Africa in 2018.

Welby’s statement in full:

We can bring you the full statement now from Justin Welby, after he moments ago announced his resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury:

“Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.

“The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth. When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.

“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.

“It is my duty to honour my constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.

“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. The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.

“For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.

“In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.

“I ask everyone to keep my wife Caroline and my children in their prayers. They have been my most important support throughout my ministry, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice.

“Caroline led the spouses’ programme during the Lambeth Conference and has travelled tirelessly in areas of conflict supporting the most vulnerable, the women, and those who care for them locally.

“I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve.

“I pray that this decision points us back towards the love that Jesus Christ has for every one of us. For above all else, my deepest commitment is to the person of Jesus Christ, my saviour and my God; the bearer of the sins and burdens of the world, and the hope of every person.”

Pascal Madu

Paschal Madu is the News Correspondent of Spark News Daily - Nigeria's most sought-after online news platform in Politics, Sport, Entertainment and Religion. Paschal Madu is a versatile journalist, writer and researcher. He was formerly the Editor of Mandate Newspaper and Senior Business Correspondent of the defunct The Union Newspaper. Pascal Madu has written several articles, many of which were published in national dailies. The Author studied Mass Communication (Print Option). paschalreporter@gmail.com 07036941267

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