Justin Welby, head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, has resigned after an investigation found he failed to inform police about serial physical and sexual abuse as soon as he became aware of it.
after release of the finding kindled anger about a lack of accountability at the highest reaches of the church.
"I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve," he said in a statement. Andrew Morse, who was repeatedly beaten by Smyth over a period of five years, said that resigning was a chance for Welby to start repairing the damage caused by the church's handling of historical abuse cases more broadly.
"I say opportunity in the sense that this would be an opportunity for him to stand with the victims of the Smyth abuse and all victims that have not been treated properly by the Church of England in their own abuse cases."
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