A blast in Great Britain! Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, is stepping down. He is said to have tried to prevent the publication of an abuse scandal involving more than a hundred victims.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has a special role: as spiritual head of the Anglican Church, he is responsible, among other things, for the coronation of the British monarch. He also holds a seat in the second chamber of parliament, the House of Lords.
Abuse scandal covered up?
An independent investigative report published a few days ago concluded that Welby could and should have reported the abuse case when he learned the details shortly after taking office in 2013. Instead, Welby allegedly attempted to investigate the decades-long alleged abuse of more than a hundred boys and young men by a church lawyer to cover up.
The alleged perpetrator died in 2018 and was never brought to justice. After appearing, Welby admitted he should have investigated the matter more thoroughly.
Senior church members called for his resignation
The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, told the BBC that the church would be risking its credibility if it did not take action following the “appalling, horrific and shocking” report. People would wonder if they could trust the church to protect them. “And I think the answer right now is ‘no,’” Hartley said. As a result of the accusations, three members of the general synod – the church parliament – launched a petition calling on Welby to resign.
Church lawyer allegedly hit boys
According to the investigation report, the church lawyer allegedly invited boys he met at Christian summer camps to his home and flogged them. Eight boys alone were said to have received a total of 14,000 lashes. There were dozens more victims.
Only in 2013 was a report filed with the police and in 2017 the case became known through a TV documentary. According to the investigation report, the man was advised to leave the country and move to Zimbabwe, South Africa, without informing police.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
