Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury

Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual head of the Anglican communion, has resigned under pressure from many after a report published last week concluded that Welby “could and should” have reported the abuse committed on hundreds of boys by John Smyth, who ran camps for boys that were associated with the Church of England. In a statement, Abp Welby said that, “it is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility” for his lack of action after becoming aware of the abuse. Welby continued, “I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England.” In his statement, Welby also said that he was “told that police had been notified” of the abuse and that he “believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.” Welby became aware of the abuse in 2013, the same year he became Archbishop of Canterbury. Because of the lack of reporting, it was concluded that Smyth was allowed to continue to abuse boys and remain outside the reach of justice until his death in 2018.

The report published last week accused Smyth of beating 30 boys he had met as one of those running the Iwerne Minster camps in England during the 1970s and 80s with a “clearly sexually motivated, sadistic regime.” Smyth then moved to Zimbabwe in the 1980s, and then to South Africa, where he has been accused of abusing another 85 to 100 boys aged 13 to 17. It is believed that Smyth continued to abuse boys until his death in South Africa at the age of 75. Had he been properly reported by those who knew of the abuse, including Welby, the authorities would likely have charged Smyth, had him brought to trial and, if convicted, incarcerated. It is expected that others who knew of Smyth’s abuse will be called on to resign, as well.

The crisis of child and adolescent abuse is one that has infected every part of our society. No one is in a position to judge or claim righteous superiority over others. The Church, the federal government, state governments, the military, the schools, the entertainment industry, scouting, sports, etc. The infection is everywhere, but no where is the epidemic of abuse more prevelent than in the family, the foundational community of every society. Politicians and movie-makers who exploit the crisis by instigating investigations of the Church or making movies where abusive priests are the norm are too often virtue-signaling in order to distract the public eye from abuse that is taking place under their watch or in their industry. The problem is rampant, and it is everywhere. That so little is being done about it by most institutions and industries is a crisis of its own.

I am sorry to hear that Abp Welby fell to the temptation of remaining silent after he learned of horrific and on-going abuse at the hands of Smyth. The fact that he had been told that the police were informed and that he assumed it was being handled is not an excuse for one whose job it is to make sure the matter was being handled. On the other hand, arguments have been made that there were plenty of good reasons for Welby to resign, including his presiding over the split in his church over homosexuality, and his failure to embrace and defend the orthodox position on the matter. Welby was weak in his defense of orthodoxy, desiring to accommodate the culture rather than challenge it on the grounds of the gospel. I hope and pray, even as one who has little regard for the Anglican church at this point, that they do choose a new Archbishop of Canterbury who will, at the very least, be a strong proponant of orthodox Christian faith and morals, as well as a heroic defender of children who will not tolerate abuse. I’m not betting on it.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.