Mumbai, November 13:  Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned amid a sexual abuse scandal. An independent investigation found that he failed to report ongoing abuse by a volunteer at Christian camps. An independent investigation revealed that Welby failed to report ongoing abuse by a volunteer at Christian camps, which tarnished his leadership of the Anglican Communion. Let us know what the sex abuse scandal that led to the resignation of the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Well.

The Church of England, founded in the 16th century, is England's national church and leads the global Anglican Communion, a federation of churches in over 165 countries with 85 million members. The Archbishop of Canterbury serves as the spiritual leader and "first among equals" in this worldwide community. Anti-Gay Laws: Pope Francis, Anglican Communion, Presbyterian Leaders Denounce Criminalisation of Homosexuality, Say ‘Gay People Should Be Welcomed by Their Churches’.

A government-commissioned independent inquiry uncovered that 390 individuals linked to the Church of England were convicted of child sexual abuse from the 1940s to 2018. The report highlighted how the church’s culture of prioritizing the authority of priests, along with taboos surrounding discussions of sexuality, allowed a system where alleged perpetrators were often shielded while victims were neglected. Black Jesus to Feature in The Last Supper Painting Above Altar at UK's Oldest Church, St Albans Cathedral (See Picture).

Who is Justin Welby?

Justin Welby, the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, is recognized for his efforts to mediate conflicts, especially in Africa. Before his ordination in 1992, he had a career in the oil industry, followed by roles in Africa and the Middle East. Welby became Archbishop in 2013, working towards unity within the Anglican Communion, although he encountered difficulties over divisive issues such as LGBT rights and women's roles in the church.

All About Sex Abuse Scandal

An independent investigation into the late John Smyth revealed that over five decades, he abused more than 100 boys and young men across Christian summer camps in the UK, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The 251-page report concluded that Archbishop Justin Welby, informed of the abuse in 2013, failed to report it to authorities. Had he acted, Smyth could have been stopped earlier, preventing further abuse. Although Welby initially resisted resigning, citing miscommunication about police involvement, growing criticism from church leaders and victims led him to take full responsibility for the mishandling of the situation, culminating in his resignation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 13, 2024 11:12 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).