Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the global Anglican church, faced mounting calls to resign on Monday over a report that his institution had covered up prolific abuse of boys and young men.
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Welby, in the role since 2013, apologised last week after the report described a barrister who ran summer camps for young Christians, John Smyth, as the most prolific serial abuser associated with the Church of England, as it is also known.
Smyth, who died in 2018, was held responsible for the violent abuse of at least 115 children and young men in England, Zimbabwe and South Africa, including caning some.
I am so sorry that in places where these young men, and boys, should have felt safe … they were subjected to [abuse]
Welby said he had “no idea or suspicion” of the allegations before 2013, but the independent report concluded that it was unlikely he would have had no knowledge of the concerns regarding Smyth in the 1980s.
Helen-Ann Hartley, one of 108 bishops within the Church of England, said Welby’s position was now untenable.
“It’s very hard for the church … to continue to have a moral voice in any way, shape, or form in our nation when we cannot get our own house in order with regard to something that’s critically important,” she said.
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A petition calling for Welby to resign – started by three members of the Church’s governing body, the General Synod – has received more than 2,900 signatures.