Justin Welby Reflects on Resignation, Apologizes for Church's Abuse Failures

In his first interview since stepping down, the former Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged personal and institutional failures in handling John Smyth abuse allegations and emphasized survivor-centered reforms.

Justin Welby reiterated his apology to survivors of John Smyth's abuse, expressing a deep sense of personal failure over the Church of England's inadequate response.
He admitted to initially mishandling the decision to resign after the Makin Review exposed systemic failures and cover-ups within the Church.
The Makin Review concluded that Welby did not sufficiently follow up on reports about Smyth, potentially allowing the abuser to evade justice.
Welby emphasized that survivor care, not institutional forgiveness, should be the Church's priority in safeguarding efforts moving forward.
The Church of England continues to face scrutiny over its safeguarding practices, with survivors and critics demanding systemic reforms and accountability.