Another scandal in England ... and another leader claiming to have “known nothing about it” (à la Vennels at the Post Office).
Justin Welby - Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Anglican Communion - is accused of having “most probably” known about the horrific & sadistic abuse meted out at the hands of the serial predator John Smyth. According to the report, it was “most probable”.
He spent some time (vague?) with Smyth in South Africa after he quickly disappeared from England. As far back as the 1970s and 1980s, people within the church are said to have known that Smyth was an abuser. Welby maintains that he wasn’t aware & sorry for the errors. Ultimately, though, the fault lies elsewhere.
Should he resign?
I’m not sure.
For yes = it would because of the Archbishop’s moral authority which may be forfeited if he stays on in Lambeth Palace. It would be about the broader CofE’s safeguarding procedures. After all, Welby appears to have done nothing even in 2013 when he was alerted (presumably call the police?).
For no = on the other hand, the report says that 40 years ago Welby was in a professional/social circle in which he might have been exposed to information that someone else was behaving in a v. concerning manner. It doesn’t seem just to punish him for something he may not have been responsible for. It seems merely being alive in the 80s was enough for a moral failing. It is hard to say if Welby, personally, covered up the abuse, or ignored it.
Not sure.
Good grief, that's horrific what they did to the boys. First I've heard of it. Of course the hierarchy would know about it and just covered it up - that's just my opinion and thought.
ReplyDeleteIt really is. And I agree with you on the covering up.
DeleteWe had very similar crises in Melbourne, with a Catholic Bishop quietly moving his abusive priests on to other parishes, and the principal of a Jewish school escaping overseas instead of facing the court. Your Archbishop of Canterbury is using exactly the same defence: "I knew nothing about it".
ReplyDeleteAs roentare says, happened all too often,
DeleteIt is just happening far too often
ReplyDeleteBrings back memories of Peter Ball and George Carey who knew about the abuse by Peter Ball and hid the evidence in a drawer. At the later investigation Welby, then Archbishop, asked Carey to resign from all positions he held and he refused and continued in the House of Lords. Welby said it could never happen again. I see he is again saying it could never happen again. Whilst there are Archbishops who will cover up it will always happen again. Welby should resign.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this.
DeleteAdds another embarrassing dimension of hypocrisy.
Moral integrity says that he should but it is always sad when someone who is not part of the crime is also asked to take the guilt burden.
ReplyDeleteIf they have hidden evidence that they knew the crime took place and shielded the perpetrator then they are part of the crime.
DeleteWe are all so righteously indignant. It's an upgrade from disgusted of 'Tunbridge Wells.'
ReplyDeleteIf Welby resigns, there'll be plenty of people left who also knew what was going on and also covered up. So I think his resignation would be a bit pointless.
ReplyDeleteOh, I just noticed that he's resigned. But what will that achieve?
ReplyDeleteSaving face, I suppose nick.
DeleteHow absurd that although Welby has supposedly resigned, it could take up to eight months to appoint a new Archbishop, so in the meantime Welby is still in post.
ReplyDelete