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Leading British Catholics have advised their church to steer clear of the resignation controversy surrounding the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The archbishop resigned on November 12 after being implicated in a significant abuse cover-up.
Timothy Guile, chairman of the English Catholic History Association, commented on the situation: “This drama won’t make a vast difference to the many people who already view Christianity negatively — they’ll merely see it as confirming what they already thought.” He added that while it would severely impact confidence within the Anglican Communion, it should not affect the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Welby's resignation followed an independent review by safeguarding specialist Keith Makin. The report revealed that he failed to ensure proper reporting of physical and sexual abuse by lawyer John Smyth at church-run camps during the 1970s and 1980s. The report stated that over 100 boys and young men were abused under Smyth's supervision.
Josephine Siedlecka, editor of Independent Catholic News, remarked on Welby's decision: “This is a huge scalp for the church’s opponents, and a warning to all denominations that we still haven’t done enough to confront abuse and must stay vigilant.” She expressed regret over his resignation but acknowledged its necessity given the circumstances.
Welby submitted his resignation to King Charles III following demands from survivors, members of the General Synod, clergy, and a petition with over 15,000 signatures. In his statement on November 12, he mentioned stepping aside was "in the best interests of the Church of England."
The move was supported by several Anglican leaders including Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also respected Welby's decision. Bishop Julie Conalty emphasized on BBC that no institution can be entirely safe from such issues.
Catholic historian Timothy Guile noted some Catholics viewed Welby as having undermined Christian teachings on family and marriage due to his stance on LGBTQ+ rights. Catherine Pepinster highlighted personal challenges in Welby's life which included dealing with alcoholic parents and losing a child.
Welby maintained strong relations with Pope Francis despite facing criticism for supporting same-sex couple blessings in 2023. Joseph Shaw from Britain’s Latin Mass Society reflected on how secular media has exposed corruption within churches but criticized Welby's leadership for damaging moral values upheld by historical mandates.
No official collective statement had been released by November 13 from either the Church of England or Anglican Communion regarding Welby’s resignation.
