Justin Welby is in an “untenable” position and should be sacked immediately, according to an abuse campaigner.
Marilyn Hawes spoke to Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster on GB News about a fresh controversy surrounding the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Welby has said he will not resign after the Makin Review concluded that John Smyth, who is thought to have been the most prolific abuser associated with the Church of England, might have been brought to justice had the archbishop formally alerted authorities in 2013.
Welby acknowledged the review found that, after Smyth’s abuse was subject to wider exposure in 2013, he had “personally failed to ensure” it was “energetically investigated”.
Hawes demanded Welby’s resignation
GB NEWS / PA
Speaking on GB News, Hawes hit out at the “spineless” Archbishop.
“I call him wokey Weelby because he’s got no spine, he has no leadership”, she said.
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Marilyn Hawes joined Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster on GB News
GB NEWS
“He’s not honouring the words in his own gospel that he’s supposed to go out and talk about.
“It’s untenable. I met Welby in 2013 before the independent inquiry. I spent 90 minutes with him trying to get him to come out and really firmly state that the abuse in the Church had been horrendous.
“He never did. What did I think after 90 minutes? Nice guy, but useless. He told me his job was to look after millions of Anglicans around the world. But he hasn’t done that, has he?
“They cannot be trusted. The Church cannot be trusted in running their own safeguarding because child abuse or any abuse of any nature remains the elephant in the room.”
Justin Welby is facing calls to quitPAA Lambeth Palace spokesperson says the archbishop is hopeful the “Makin Review supports the ongoing work of building a safer church here and around the world”.
Over five decades between the 1970s until his death, John Smyth is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks, permanently marking their lives.
The report said Smyth “could and should have been formally reported to the police in the UK, and to authorities in South Africa (church authorities and potentially the police) by church officers, including a diocesan bishop and Justin Welby in 2013″.
When the Makin report was published, Welby admitted he had considered resigning but decided not to after taking advice from “senior colleagues”.