Welby Resignation Demanded Over Smyth Abuse

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Post on Nov 12, 2024

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Calls for Archbishop Welby's Resignation Mount Over Smyth Abuse Scandal

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is facing increasing pressure to resign in the wake of the ongoing scandal surrounding the abuse of children at a church-run school in the 1970s and 1980s.

The calls for Welby's resignation come after a damning independent inquiry report, published in October 2023, detailed the systemic abuse that took place at the now-closed Cheam School in Surrey. The report, commissioned by the Church of England, found that the school's then headmaster, John Smyth, had subjected boys in his care to physical and sexual abuse, and that the church authorities had failed to adequately investigate or address the allegations.

The inquiry found that Welby, who was a student at Cheam School from 1971 to 1973, was aware of the abuse and had spoken about it with other students at the time. However, he did not report the allegations to the authorities until much later.

The Archbishop's Response

Welby has apologized for his failure to report the abuse sooner and has expressed "profound sorrow" for the victims. He has also stated that he will cooperate fully with the Church of England's response to the inquiry's recommendations.

However, many critics argue that Welby's apology is not enough and that his continued leadership of the Church of England is untenable. They point to the inquiry's findings that the Church had a "culture of secrecy and denial" surrounding the abuse, and that Welby was a part of this culture.

Calls for Resignation

Among those calling for Welby's resignation are:

• The National Secular Society: The NSS has described the inquiry's findings as "shocking" and has called for Welby to step down, saying that his position is "no longer tenable."
• Survivors of abuse: Several survivors of abuse at Cheam School have also called for Welby's resignation, arguing that he has lost the moral authority to lead the Church.
• Some clergy members: While the majority of the Church of England clergy remain silent, some have privately expressed their concern about Welby's ability to continue in his role.

The Future of the Church

The scandal surrounding John Smyth and the Cheam School inquiry has cast a shadow over the Church of England. It has raised serious questions about the church's ability to protect vulnerable children and its culture of accountability.

Whether Welby will resign remains to be seen. The pressure on him to do so is mounting, and his decision will have a significant impact on the future of the Church of England.

This article is intended to be informative and does not represent any specific political or religious stance.