Abuse survivors urge further Church of England resignations after Archbishop’s departure

Survivors are demanding additional resignations following the Archbishop of Canterbury’s announcement that he will step down, as the repercussions from a damning report into a prolific child abuser linked to the Church continue. Justin Welby resigned after a review concluded that he “could and should” have reported John Smyth’s abuse of boys and young men to police in 2013. This unprecedented resignation has caused significant turmoil within the Church and intensified pressure on other Church members to explain their knowledge of the abuse. Concurrently, Church leaders convened virtually on Wednesday for discussions with victims of John Smyth, many of whom maintain that Mr. Welby’s decision to stand down alone will not be sufficient. A bishop overseeing safeguarding indicated openness to further resignations, though the Archbishop of York, the Church’s second most senior official, stated that these should not involve bishops. An independent review released last week determined that Mr. Welby, who is the most senior bishop in the Church of England, along with other church officers, ought to have formally reported Smyth to police in the UK and authorities in South Africa in 2013. The review also stated that in 1982, other individuals within the Church had engaged in a “cover-up” to prevent Smyth’s abuse from being exposed. Smyth faced accusations of assaulting dozens of boys, including some encountered at Christian camps, in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s, and subsequently in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The report concluded that the Church’s inaction represented a “missed opportunity” to prosecute Smyth before his death in 2018. Rachel Treweek, the Bishop of Gloucester, informed BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour that while Mr. Welby’s resignation was appropriate, it would be incorrect to consider it a “job done.” She asserted that everyone who was “part of that cover-up … must be brought to account.” Furthermore, Martin Gorick, the Bishop of Dudley, conveyed to BBC Radio WM his “uncomfortable” feeling about collaborating with anyone “covering up” reports from Smyth’s victims. Julie Conalty, the Church’s deputy lead bishop for safeguarding, stated that she could not assure that abuse was not still occurring within the Church, adding that no institution “can ever be totally safe.” Mrs. Conalty, who is the Bishop for Birkenhead, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “very possibly other people should go.” However, according to Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the second most powerful figure in the Church after Mr. Welby, these individuals should not be bishops. He told Today, “We now know that some people pretty systematically covered this up, and those people need to be brought to account.” When questioned about additional resignations, he asserted that those who “actively covered this up” ought to depart, but that Mr. Welby’s resignation for “institutional failures” was sufficient. He also stated that, under “the current plan,” independent oversight of safeguarding would be established by next year. Concurrently, Dr. Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Newcastle, commented that advancements in transforming the Church’s safeguarding culture were “being undermined by the arrogance of a few.” On Tuesday, Mr. Welby declared that “it is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility” for his actions after initially being informed of the abuse. Andrew Watson, the Bishop of Guildford, who in 2017 disclosed being beaten by Smyth, characterized the current period as “turbulent” for the Church, yet viewed Mr. Welby’s decision as a readiness to “take responsibility for the wider Church’s failings.” In a statement, he affirmed, “On the ground our churches have continued to make significant improvements in our safeguarding practice.” Survivors of Church abuse have urged other senior Church members to be questioned regarding their management of the Smyth allegations. Mark Stibbe, a former vicar and author, informed Channel 4 News that he believed Mr. Welby had “done the right thing” and that he and other survivors had been advocating for his resignation for years. He stated, “I applaud Justin Welby for resigning but what I think the survivor group would like is more resignations because that means more accountability, people taking responsibility for having been silent when they should have spoken.” He further added, “If there are senior clergy who have broken the law then they need to be called to account.” Richard Gittins, another survivor, told Sky News that bishops “who kept the stories to themselves” should now be the subject of inquiry. The report on Smyth’s abuse also names other bishops, among them the current Bishop of Lincoln, Stephen Conway. A victim of Smyth alleged that Bishop Conway’s actions were insufficient when he was made aware of the abuse during his tenure as the Bishop of Ely. The report indicated that Conway was in a “potentially powerful position” to guarantee that serious abuse allegations were investigated, yet these allegations were “not properly investigated” even though his diocese had knowledge of them from early 2013. In a statement, Bishop Conway affirmed that he was informed of Smyth’s abuse details in 2013, subsequently made a comprehensive disclosure to Lambeth Palace, and also contacted the South African diocese where Smyth had sought refuge. The Archbishop of York defended Bishop Conway, telling Today that he “was the first person to do something about this.” He stated that individuals who “actively covered this up” should resign, but clarified that this did not apply to bishops, and noted that Mr. Welby had assumed responsibility for “institutional failings.” Health Secretary Wes Streeting commented that Mr. Welby’s departure “was absolutely the right decision” and that church leaders should not “think that just one head rolling solves the problem.” He told Today, “There are deep and fundamental issues of not just practice but culture on safeguarding.” He further added, “The culture of cover-up has been part of the problem on serious abuse for far too long.” There is no contemporary precedent for an Archbishop of Canterbury being compelled to resign. Focus will now shift to the procedure for choosing his successor, a process that is not anticipated to be swift. A confidential committee is set to be established over the coming months, with its chair designated by the prime minister. Following consultations throughout the UK and the broader Anglican Communion, prospective candidates will be invited for interviews. A two-thirds majority within the committee is required before a name is forwarded to the prime minister, who then submits it to the King. The monarch, in their capacity as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, will ultimately appoint the subsequent archbishop, though this appointment is not expected for several months.