The resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury has sent shockwaves through both the Church of England and public discourse. Welby, the 105th Archbishop, stepped down after a damning independent report that revealed the Church’s decades-long failure to review the abuses of John Smyth, a serial abuser who groomed and harmed over 130 boys across multiple countries.
While the focus should remain on institutional accountability, some discussions have curiously veered toward Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s friendship with Welby—a distraction from the core issue at hand.
A Timeline of Friendship and Professional Duty
Welby’s relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan began during preparations for their 2018 royal wedding. Over the years, the friendship deepened, with Welby officiating at key moments in the couple’s lives, including the christening of their first child, Archie, in 2019. Welby even defended the couple in the wake of “Megxit,” describing the pressures of royal life as “life without parole” and emphasizing that the public’s expectations of royals are often “superhuman.”
Critics have accused Welby of being too sympathetic to the Sussexes, with palace sources claiming he had “fallen under their spell.” However, these claims only serve to distract from the much larger and more serious issue: Welby’s failure to act decisively on allegations of abuse within the Church.
The John Smyth Scandal and Welby’s Resignation
The independent review that led to Welby’s resignation revealed that the Church of England covered up John Smyth’s abuses for decades. Smyth, a barrister and evangelist, used his position to groom and abuse boys, leaving a trail of trauma in his wake. Welby worked with Smyth in the 1970s and even exchanged Christmas cards with him for years, raising questions about his judgment and awareness.
Welby admitted to being informed of Smyth’s actions in 2013 but failed to notify police, believing the matter was being handled appropriately. It wasn’t until 2017 that law enforcement began investigating Smyth, who had moved to Zimbabwe to continue his predatory behavior.
In his resignation statement, Welby acknowledged his failure, saying, “It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.” He expressed shame at the Church’s historic safeguarding failures and pledged to meet with victims as part of his commitment to accountability.
Shifting the Focus: Stop Blaming Harry and Meghan
Despite the gravity of the Smyth scandal, some media outlets and commentators have attempted to draw Harry and Meghan into the narrative, citing Welby’s friendship with the couple as a supposed distraction from his duties. This misplaced blame ignores the real issue: the systemic failures within the Church of England that allowed abuse to persist for decades.
Harry and Meghan’s relationship with Welby was built on mutual respect and pastoral care. Welby’s role as a spiritual advisor to the couple should not overshadow his responsibilities within the Church or serve as a scapegoat for its institutional failures. The attempts to link the Sussexes to Welby’s resignation reflect a broader pattern of unfair scrutiny directed at the couple, who have consistently been targeted by unfounded narratives.
Accountability and Moving Forward
The resignation of Justin Welby marks a critical moment for the Church of England. It is a chance to confront its failures and implement meaningful reforms to ensure that such abuses never happen again. However, this moment of reckoning should not be clouded by irrelevant distractions or misplaced blame.
The focus must remain on justice for the victims of John Smyth and the systemic changes needed within the Church. Redirecting attention to Harry and Meghan only detracts from the accountability that survivors deserve and perpetuates a culture of deflection.
As Welby steps down, let this be a turning point for both the Church of England and public discourse: one that prioritizes truth, justice, and systemic reform over sensationalism and scapegoating.
celebchai.com 