LONDON: News Desk
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, announced his resignation on Tuesday, stating that the decision was in the “best interests of the Church of England.” This development follows a report by Keith Makin, released last Thursday, which investigated abuses committed by the late John Smyth, a former barrister and lay preacher.
In a statement from Lambeth Palace, issued at 2 p.m., Archbishop Welby said, “I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honored to serve.” He expressed hope that his decision would help refocus the Church on the “love that Jesus Christ has for every one of us.”
The Makin report revealed what the Archbishop described as a “long-maintained conspiracy of silence” surrounding Smyth’s abuses, which were concealed over several decades. Archbishop Welby’s resignation comes amid growing calls for accountability within the Church regarding how such cases have been handled.
