Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns Amid Abuse Scandal Findings

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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby's tenure officially ended on Monday following a disturbing investigation into historical abuse cases within the Church of England. The independent inquiry uncovered that Welby failed to promptly report serial abuse by John Smyth, a volunteer at Christian summer camps, upon learning of the allegations in August 2013.

The investigation, referred to as the Makin Review, detailed that Smyth was responsible for the sexual, psychological, and physical abuse of approximately 30 boys and young men in the UK and 85 in Africa from the 1970s until his death in 2018. The report criticized the church's culture of protection for alleged abusers rather than victims, which the 2022 Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse highlighted as institutional failings.

In a symbolic gesture marking the end of his ministry, Welby handed over his bishop’s crozier to Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, who will now oversee most of Welby's official functions. Initially, Welby had resisted the call to resign, creating public outrage regarding accountability within church leadership.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is a significant figure in global Anglicanism, leading more than 85 million members across 165 countries. With Welby's resignation, there are urgent calls for reflection and reform within the church to address historical abuse and ensure protection for victims.

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