Justin Welby says review that led to resignation as archbishop was partly wrong
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Former Archbishop of Canterbury challenges key finding of report that led to his resignation
- Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, publicly disputed the findings of an independent review that led to his resignation, asserting it was wrong.
- Mr Welby claimed he did not learn the full extent of prolific abuser John Smyth’s actions until 2017, despite the review stating he could have reported Smyth sooner.
- John Smyth, who died in 2018, was responsible for abusing as many as 130 boys and young men over five decades in the UK and Africa.
- Mr Welby said that in 2013, he was aware of only one allegation against Smyth and was preoccupied with other major abuse cases within the Church.
- He admitted to being “insufficiently persistent” in pursuing Smyth’s case, which he cited as a reason for his resignation, describing it as a profoundly lonely experience.