Justin Welby, the left-wing Archbishop of Canterbury, announced on Tuesday that he would resign following allegations of a cover-up of child sexual abuse by the Church of England.
“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our deep commitment to creating a safer church.As I resign, I , it is with sadness that I resign alongside all victims and survivors of abuse,” said Mr Welby, who has been de facto head of the Church of England since 2013. said In a statement.
An independent inquiry last week found more than 130 boys are believed to have been sexually and physically abused by the late John Smith QC, who led a Church of England summer camp in the 1970s and 1980s. did. According to the BBC, he is also suspected of administering thousands of lashes to the boys. reported.
The Makin report said Mr Smith, who died in 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa, aged 77, could have been brought to trial had Archbishop Welby not reported the alleged child sexual abuse to police. . .
“Since July 2013, the Church of England has had the highest level of knowledge of abuses that took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It should have been reported,” the report states.
The report sparked widespread calls for Mr Welby to resign, including from Newcastle Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley. accused They claimed that from the time the church was made aware of the accusations until Smith's death in 2018, he “allowed the abuse to continue.”
“I think people are rightly asking, 'Can we really trust the Church of England to keep us safe?' And I think the answer at the moment is no.” she said Monday.
The pressure ultimately led Mr Welby to resign on Tuesday, issuing a statement: “Having sought the generous permission of His Majesty the King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.”
Mr Welby claimed that after Church learned of the allegations against Mr Smith, he “erroneously believed that an appropriate resolution would be reached”.
“It is clear that I must take personal and organizational responsibility for the long and traumatic period from 2013 to 2024,” he said.
“I believe it is in the best interests of the Church of England to step down, and I love it dearly and am honored to serve it. “I believe this decision is in the best interest of the Church of England, and that it is an honor to serve it. I pray that it will lead you to the love you have for each and every one of us.”
Mr Welby, the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury since 2013, has been heavily criticized for introducing woke ideology into British political debate during his tenure.
For example, the archbishop frequently opposes government attempts to crack down on illegal immigration to the UK and claims to support “welcoming” alleged refugees who cross the English Channel illegally from France. did.
Mr Welby, a strong advocate of “social justice”, has previously denounced “white supremacy” and “heterosexual supremacy” and spoke out during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots. He once declared that he was “ashamed” of Britain's history. He also launched a campaign. Clearing churches of supposedly offensive colonial-era statues and movements.
The archbishop also inserted woke ideology into the religious conversation, declaring that God is “gender-neutral.”
Following his resignation, Brexit chief Nigel Farage said: “Archbishop Welby is gone, thank the Lord. Perhaps the Church of England will appoint a leader who believes in Christian values?”
'I Have White Advantage, Male Advantage, Straight Advantage' – Woke Archbishop Brands Own Church 'Institutionally Racist' https://t.co/0PXUlVhZUI
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 16, 2020
