"‘Minors Sexual Abuse Cover-up Accountability Needed’... Archbishop of the Church of England Finally Resigns"

Suspicions of Concealment in Minor Sexual Abuse Case Arise
Victim Urges Resignation Through Media
Under Continued Pressure, Official Finally Announces Resignation

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the highest-ranking cleric of the Church of England (Anglican Church), which leads 85 million Anglican believers worldwide, has finally resigned under pressure. The resignation came after a report revealed that the Church of England had concealed cases of child sexual abuse spanning decades, and that Archbishop Welby had failed to respond adequately.

"‘Minors Sexual Abuse Cover-up Accountability Needed’... Archbishop of the Church of England Finally Resigns"

Justin Welby (68), the Archbishop of Canterbury and the highest cleric of the Church of England (Anglican Church), which leads 85 million Anglican believers worldwide, has finally resigned under pressure. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

On the 12th (local time), foreign media including the AP News and The Guardian reported that Archbishop Welby stated in a press release, "I believe that resigning is in the best interest of the Church of England," and expressed solidarity with "all victims and survivors of abuse." He said, "When I was informed about this in 2013 and heard that the police had been notified, I mistakenly believed that appropriate resolution would follow," adding, "It is clear that I bear personal and official responsibility over the long period between 2013 and 2024."

Earlier, on the 7th, an independent investigation report commissioned by the Church of England's House of Bishops revealed that the church concealed allegations of child abuse against John Smith, a lawyer involved in church-related activities. Smith was accused of sexually, physically, and emotionally abusing more than 100 boys and young men in the UK and Africa since the 1970s. However, investigations only began after allegations surfaced in a 2017 broadcast, and Smith died in 2018, evading legal judgment.

The report pointed out that from 2013, when Welby assumed the position of Archbishop of Canterbury and was informed of these allegations, he and senior church officials, including diocesan bishops, could and should have officially reported the matter to the police but failed to do so. Following the report's publication, members of the Church of England's governing Synod and bishops demanded Archbishop Welby's resignation. Victims also urged his resignation through the media. Over 13,000 people signed a petition calling for his resignation before he announced it. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, "Victims feel that they have not been properly and seriously dealt with," and added that the issue of Welby's position is a matter for the church. Archbishop Welby's resignation comes 11 years after his appointment in 2013.

Archbishop Welby graduated from the prestigious Eton School and Cambridge University and worked in the oil industry for 11 years before becoming an Anglican priest. He later served as the vicar of Liverpool and bishop of Durham. During his tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury, the Church of England began ordaining female bishops. He also officiated Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022 and King Charles III's coronation in 2023. Additionally, he has publicly voiced concerns on global issues such as climate change, poverty, war, corruption, corporate social responsibility, and refugee matters. As the head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of 85 million believers in 165 countries worldwide. The BBC forecasts that selecting his successor will take at least six months.