by The resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury has fueled calls for tougher accountability in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal involving senior clergy.
The victims of John Smyth, who abused up to 130 boys and young men over four decades and three continents, have called on two bishops and an associate minister to resign.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the Most Reverend Julie Conalty, Bishop of Birkenhead, who is the deputy bishop for defence, admitted that the resignation of the Archbishop alone “is not going to solve the problem ”, while speaking about the need to. “institutional changes”.
As pressure mounts, The Telegraph has identified the four most senior Church of England leaders accused in the Makin review of being aware of allegations against Smyth before they were published in 2017 – and are still in post.
Revd Stephen Conway, Bishop of Lincoln
Bishop Conway is among the most senior clergy who have been asked to resign.
He was serving as Bishop of Ely in 2013 when one of Smyth’s victims, who wishes to remain anonymous, alerted the diocese to allegations of abuse.
Although the diocese forwarded some information to the police, and wrote a letter to Cape Town, it did not take sufficient action to ensure follow-up on either, according to the report.
Makin’s review found that Bishop Conway “was in a powerful position to … intensify the referral to South Africa, to ensure that it was referred by the police and investigated, and to ensure that the full extent of the -concerns about this disclosure. serious abuse is continuing in its entirety”.
However, under his leadership, “opportunities” to formally report concerns to the police and follow up on a letter sent to the Cape Town diocese were missed.
Speaking to the Telegraph, the victim who reported the concerns said: “If there is a single person responsible for the failure to find and stop Smyth, it is Stephen Conway.
“He failed to stop the biggest abuse the Church of England has ever seen and the buck stops at Stephen Conway.”
Andrew Morse, a victim who was severely beaten by Smyth as a teenager, supported calls for the bishop to resign.
He said: “Conway should stand down for impeding Smyth’s victims on our long road to justice.
“I can’t see how someone so closely involved with the problem can be part of any solution.”
In a statement published on Monday, the Bishop of Lincoln said: “In light of the review, I understand that there were further steps I could have taken after reporting the revelations made to us in the Diocese of Ely about John Smyth. I regret that I did not continue these actions at that time.
“In 2013, following the advice, policy and safeguarding practice of the time, I believed that I had done everything I could and that the allegations were being responded to appropriately.
“I know that as a bishop, I must continue to strive, as now, for the best protection practice in our diocese, and I am firm in my personal commitment to support all victims and survivors.”
The Most Reverend Dr Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of the Episcopal Ministry at the Office of the Anglican Communion
Another bishop under pressure to resign from the scandal is the Most Reverend Dr Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of the Episcopal Ministry at the Anglican Communion Office in London.
In 2013, Bishop Wells was working for the Archbishop of Canterbury as personal chaplain at Lambeth Palace. It was Bishop Wells who received the defense referral from Bishop Conway who raised allegations against Smyth.
But the report found that she failed to follow up on this referral with the police.
Instead, Bishop Wells told Bishop Conway that, according to the review, she would “leave it to the diocese to pursue and take no further action until further advice has been provided by the police”.
The reviewers found that this advice never came and there was “no evidence” that she followed this.
She suggested to the review that safeguarding was not part of her remit at the time.
Calling for her resignation, the unnamed victim insisted that the bishop “clearly knew about the abuse in 2013” but “failed to follow up in any way”.
In a statement, Dr Bailey Wells said she was “appalled” by Smyth’s abuse and recognized the “tremendous courage” of victims who have come forward.
She added: “I was chaplain to Archbishop Justin from 2013-2016. When I was asked to look after this matter I trusted that it was being overseen elsewhere, and as part of a police investigation. I was not aware of the nature or extent of the allegations. I regret that I did not do more to verify the assertions made or to question the assumptions.”
Most Reverend Dr Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town
In 2013, Bishop Conway wrote to the Reverend Garth Counsell, now retired Bishop of Table Bay, Cape Town, to raise safeguarding concerns about Smyth.
An email sent by Bishop Counsell to the diocese of Ely on 27 August 2013 states that he has established that Smyth “is with one of the parishes in the diocese of Cape Town”.
The Bishop also said that he will “consult with the Archbishop of Cape Town, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, on the way forward”.
Makin’s review noted, however, that Bishop Conway reported on 10 September that he had received a short reply from Cape Town and that he “does not think much action will be taken”.
Smyth died in Cape Town in August 2018 while being investigated by Hampshire Police – a police investigation that began after Smyth’s abuse was the subject of a Channel 4 News report.
The review concluded that, “tragically for his victims, he was not brought to justice for the abuse”.
The Archbishop of Cape Town said he was “numb and deeply saddened” by the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, but said his “courageous decision is an important step towards ending the abuse scandal”. accept accountability”. in the church around the world”.
In a statement he said: “The Anglican church in Cape Town where John Smyth worshiped – a year or two, 20 years ago, and again in the last months of his life – has indicated that it has not received any reports that implying that he abused it. or young people groomed, but can not be complacent.”
The Most Reverend Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
The Reverend Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and also a member of the Lords Spiritual, is named in Makin’s review as allegedly concerned about Smyth’s behaviour.
Former Anglican clergyman Rico Tice told the Makin review that Bishop Seeley asked him about John Smyth in the 1990s when he was applying for ordination.
Mr Tice said the question was asked during an interview with Bishop Seely, who was then the selection secretary of the Church’s Ministry Advisory Board in London.
Bishop Seeley told the review that he has no recollection of asking such a question, or being asked to do so.
Mr Tice is an evangelical Christian who served as an Anglican clergyman at All Souls Church, in London, until earlier this year, when he resigned from introducing same-sex blessings.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bishop Seeley said “we know that no words can undo the harm that has been done to people’s lives by [Smyth] and by the failure of individuals in the Church and other institutions to respond well.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the victims who came forward to reveal the appalling extent of Smyth’s abuse, for their courage, grace and dignity.”
He added: “It is clear that the Church and its associated organizations must be truly repentant and learn from this review, and continue to be committed to implementing strong safeguarding procedures across all parts of the Church.”
The diocese has been contacted for comment on Mr Tice’s allegation against Bishop Seeley, which is described in Makin’s review.
