An independent review has found the Church of England covered up “horrific’ abuse by a lawyer who volunteered at Christian summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s. The report released Thursday says John Smyth, who died in South Africa in 2018 at age 75, physically, sexually, psychologically and spiritually abused about 30 boys and young men in the U.K.
FILE - The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby walks through Westminster in London on Sept. 14, 2022. covered up “horrific” abuse by a lawyer who volunteered at Christian summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s, and the ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion failed to report him to authorities when he learned of the abuse in 2013, according to an independent review released Thursday.
The church said it was “deeply sorry for the horrific abuse,” adding “there is never a place for covering up abuse.”ICC judges unseal an arrest warrant for an alleged Central African Republic rebelSmyth, who was an accomplished lawyer and charismatic speaker, was a volunteer leader at the Iwerne camps. The camps held in several locations were associated with the church and were developed to prepare young men from leading schools for high offices in the church and other parts of society.
Eight of the victims received about 14,000 strokes of the cane and two reported 8,000 lashes over three years. Eight men said they often bled from the whippings and others reported bruising and scarring. Smyth was strongly encouraged to leave and ended up moving to Zimbabwe with this wife and children, the report said. He received financial help from church officers.
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