Church of England Concealed John Smyth's Abuse for Decades, Report Reveals

An independent review finds that the Church of England failed to act on widespread abuse by John Smyth, allowing him to evade justice for years.

John Smyth QC, a barrister, abused over 100 children and young men across the UK and Africa, with the Church of England covering up his actions for decades.
The abuse, which included severe physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual attacks, was first identified in the 1980s but was not reported to authorities until much later.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby acknowledged receiving warnings about Smyth but failed to ensure a thorough investigation after learning of the abuse in 2013.
The report criticizes the Church's ineffective response and the active cover-up by senior church officials, which allowed Smyth to continue his abuse overseas.
The Church of England has apologized for the abuse and its concealment, pledging to implement the report's 27 recommendations to prevent future incidents.