Abuse Victim Demands Bishop of Lincoln’s Resignation

A victim of a sadistic child abuser has urged the Bishop of Lincoln to step down from his position, citing the bishop’s inaction after allegations came to light. The individual, whose identity is being withheld by the BBC, stated that the Right Reverend Stephen Conway’s actions were insufficient during his tenure as Bishop of Ely, following his notification of John Smyth’s abusive conduct. “He was the person in a position to stop John Smyth, bring him to justice, and he fundamentally failed,” the victim asserted. Bishop Conway, in a statement released on Tuesday evening, affirmed that he exercised all available authority as a Church of England bishop, but expressed being “deeply sorry” for not “rigorously pursuing” the issue with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin Welby has since resigned from his role as Archbishop, following revelations that he failed to adequately investigate reports concerning Smyth’s abuse of over 100 boys and young men. The victim notified Bishop Conway’s diocese at the time about the allegations against Smyth in 2013, as detailed in a critical report authored by former social services chief Keith Makin. Bishop Conway’s statement indicated that his primary concern had been to offer assistance to victims and survivors linked to the Diocese of Ely. Bishop Conway stated that he provided a comprehensive disclosure to Lambeth Palace and reached out to the diocese in South Africa, where Smyth had sought refuge. “It was my understanding that this matter was reported to the police in Cambridgeshire and duly passed on to the police in Hampshire where the abuse had occurred,” he explained. He further stated, “I am clear that I did all within my authority as a bishop of the Church of England, bearing in mind that I had no authority over an entirely independent province on another continent.” “I acknowledge fully that my fault was in not rigorously pursuing Lambeth about that province-to-province communication, and for this I am deeply sorry,” he concluded. The Makin Review indicated that Bishop Conway occupied a “potentially powerful position” to guarantee that pertinent authorities in both the UK and South Africa were fully apprised of the concerns regarding Smyth’s abuse. The review asserted, “We have demonstrated that this was far from the case, with serious abuse and crimes being covered up at the time.” It added, “This complacency continues with comments from the Bishop of Ely and a lack of serious attention from Lambeth Palace and various police forces.” Smyth held the positions of a notable barrister and a lay preacher, defined as a congregant who delivers sermons without being ordained. The Makin report characterized his actions during the 1970s and 1980s as a “clearly sexually motivated, sadistic regime” involving beatings. He targeted boys participating in Christian camps and attending sessions at prominent public schools, such as Winchester College. He would then bring them to his residence and assault them with a cane in his shed. Some victims required adult nappies due to the bleeding they experienced. Smyth subsequently traveled to Zimbabwe and South Africa, where he is accused of having perpetuated his abusive behavior. He passed away in 2018. The victim, who prefers not to be identified as a “survivor,” stated: “The Makin Review is quite clear about the culpability of Stephen Conway.” The victim added, “I don’t care about his prayers, I want his resignation.” Prior to Mr. Welby’s resignation, the victim conveyed this message to him: “Justin – you knew most of the victims. You have refused to meet us for seven years. You bloody coward.” Mr. Welby had recently conceded that the review highlighted his “personally failed to ensure it was energetically investigated,” though he had initially resisted calls to resign. The Diocese of Ely, in a statement, affirmed its “committed to fully reviewing and implementing all recommendations” of the Makin Review, with the aim “to ensure the safety and care of all individuals within our church communities.”