Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigns over child abuse scandal | BBC News

BBC News

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned, days after a damning report said the Church of England had known for years about a serial child abuser who subjected more than 100 boys and young men to sexual and physical assaults. . In a resignation statement Welby said he "must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024". The spiritual head of the world Anglican communion was accused of failing to act on reports of horrific child abuse by John Smyth QC. The review of the Church’s handling of the Smyth case said Justin Welby "could and should" have reported the case to authorities when details were presented to him in 2013. Mr Welby had acknowledged that the review made clear he had "personally failed" to "energetically investigate" when presented with the facts. Smyth is believed to be the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England, having subjected as many as 130 victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks. His abuse took place over almost five decades and across three countries, according to the report. He targeted boys who attended summer camps he ran for young Christians. Smyth abused 26 to 30 boys and young men in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. He then relocated to Africa, where he abused a further 85 to 100 "young male children aged 13 to 17". The report made clear that from July 2013, the Church of England knew "at the highest level" about Smyth's abuse in the UK and should have "properly and effectively" reported him to the UK police and the relevant authorities in South Africa. Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Aleem Maqbool and Mark Easton. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news #BBCNews