LONDON,  England, November 12, 2023 - In a move that has sent ripples through the Anglican community, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has announced his resignation, bowing to mounting pressure over his handling of a high-profile abuse scandal. The departure, formally approved by King Charles on Tuesday, follows an intense public reckoning over the Church of England’s response to abuse allegations involving former barrister John Smyth.

The resignation follows the release of the independent Makin Review, a report that sheds harsh light on the church’s handling of Smyth's abuse and condemns Welby’s decision not to alert authorities when he was informed in 2013. Smyth, who died in 2018, is believed to have abused approximately 130 boys, targeting victims in both the United Kingdom and later in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Makin Review suggests that swift action by church leadership could have brought Smyth to justice years ago.