i imagine the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury not having a tattoo. But if he did, he would have that favorite among so many carefree people: “GOD ONLY CAN JUDGE ME.” as it goes, people with this tattoo often appear in court. In fact, sentencing guidelines for people with self-satirical body art is one of only three subjects on which Justin Welby has made no public comment in his tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury.
But the great pontiff is now getting back his badge and miter, and yesterday he could be found delivering a rather shockingly deaf last speech as Archbishop of Canterbury in the House of Lords. We recall that Welby’s resignation was requested because he definitely knew of victims of John Smitha sadistic monster he once admired immensely. Groomed and horribly beaten, Smith’s victims pleaded repeatedly – and for years – for an inquiry which the Church of England did not instigate. Many of them now say that the church’s ignoring of their trauma is tantamount to abuse itself.
And so to Welby’s final speech to the Lords. “If you feel sorry for anyone,” he winks at his unexpected departure, “feel sorry for my poor diary secretary.” I’m sorry… WHAT? But I fear the Archbishop of Banterbury has come in formally. “My God,” another gambit muttered. “It’s often said and it’s a cliché to say — but hey, I’m the archbishop after all — that if you want to make God laugh, make plans. Based on that, next year I will give God more joy than anyone for many years.” this is not it. And tone was everything – there was not a single expression of sorrow or remorse for Smith’s vast number of victims, several of whom are known to have tried to take their own lives over the years. On Friday afternoon, something – perhaps the pained reaction of the survivors? – prompted Welby yes issue an apology.
As he could. This particular context certainly added something to another part about the head having to roll, “whether one is personally liable or not.” “In this case, there’s only one head that rolls well enough,” Welby added. How convenient for the wider institution. “Smith survivors want everyone responsible to step down,” one victim said was forced to repeat in consequence of this speech. As for “whether a person is personally liable”… Let me clarify: a person IS personally liable. One went massively wrong. Onea distinct lack of curiosity” – not my words, but the verdict of Welby and other senior church figures from the official independent review of the church’s handling of Smith – is the terrible sin of omission here. The allegations against Smith were first investigated and aired publicly, not by the Church of England, but by Channel 4 News, whose 2017 report precious little justice ensues in this case.
To pick a date, talking about secretaries in the diaries, it’s really crazy to think that Welby spent October 1, 2014. importance blogs listening to the victims of abuse and declaring that they would never be charged—when he could have spent it talking to the victims of Smith’s abuse and telling the authorities about the man they were accusing.
During the years in which he knew of Smith’s many British victims, Welby found time to cover a wide range of subjects. The legitimacy of fear in the Brexit debate, the Bake Off, the gig economy, loan sharking, reality TV, credit unions, the iniquities of the global trading system, the airstrikes against Islamic State, the broken economic model… All these things – and so much more – over which Welby had no operational control were purged from his reflection hose while Smith set about abusing at least 85 more boys (currently assessment) in African nations. It was a horror that Welby could have done something directly to prevent. Smith eventually died in South Africa in 2018. as a free man, although he was finally investigated by Hampshire Constabulary. For all his evil suggestions to the boys that his excruciating beatings were a way to avoid brimstone, I guess Smith never even believed there was a hell, or he wouldn’t have spent a lifetime trying to keep his place in it.
Ultimately, the living story after Welby’s resignation has to be the speed with which this whole affair of deposing archbishops has now been swept under the church’s huge carpet, even as the victims work desperately to stop it. Yet why should it be up to the victims to keep pushing to keep the issue relevant? Why should people who have already been through the most disgusting things somehow find the strength to demand that a huge, powerful and obviously selfish institution make serious changes?
Before resigning, Welby’s allies defended him with the stunning argument that other senior church figures knew much more about Smith’s abuse than Welby and for much longer. In this case: who are they? What are their names? What is being done to hold them accountable? Every single one of these supposedly pious individuals should suffer the consequences, but they won’t because the Church of England is somehow still responsible for its own safeguards.
The institutional cover-up of abuse so reliably follows the same patterns that I have come to think that anyone who fails to notify the appropriate authorities after abuse is reported to them should be prosecuted for aiding and abetting. Perhaps this would crystallize their minds as to the right thing to do. Until then, the whole way in which this business had developed, and is still developing, confirmed not only that “justice cannot be replaced by religious rites or pious comments” – but that “the justice of the powerful is no justice at all.” Supposedly a wise man once made these declarations. I won’t offend you by saying who.
-
In the United Kingdom, NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111 and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused as Children (On the contrary) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US call or text Child benefit abuse hotline at 800-422-4453. In Australia, children, young people, parents and teachers can contact Hotline for children at 1800 55 1800, or Brave hearts on 1800 272 831 and older survivors can get in touch Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at International child helplines
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section please click here.