Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has stepped down, reporter reports.
His resignation follows the findings of the independent Makin review, which revealed that the Church of England concealed sexual abuse by a barrister.
Responding to calls for him to resign, Welby stated that the report “uncovered a long-standing conspiracy of silence surrounding the horrific abuses committed by John Smyth.”
Welby admitted that he “mistakenly believed an appropriate resolution would be reached” when he learned in 2013 that Smyth had been reported to the police.
In a statement, he announced, “With the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have chosen to step down as Archbishop of Canterbury.”
He added, “It is evident that I must accept personal and institutional responsibility for the prolonged and retraumatizing period from 2013 to 2024.”
Last week, the independent Makin review on John Smyth QC’s abuse of children and young men was released.
Smyth allegedly inflicted severe physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse on his victims.
The report concluded that Smyth might have faced justice if Welby had formally reported the matter to the police ten years ago.
Smyth passed away at age 75 in Cape Town in 2018 while under investigation by Hampshire Police, meaning he was “never brought to justice for the abuse,” according to the review.
