Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal
LONDON, NOV 13 (AP) - In a shocking move, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced his resignation yesterday amidst an ongoing sexual abuse scandal rocking the Church of England.
Justin Welby, who has served as the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion since 2013, will step down from his position in the coming weeks. The news was met with a mixture of surprise and outrage from church officials, advocates, and members of the public.
Welby's resignation comes on the heels of an independent report that revealed widespread cover-ups and failures by the Church to address decades-old allegations of child abuse by high-ranking clergy members. The report, which was commissioned in 2022, found that numerous incidents were concealed or hidden from authorities for years, leaving victims to suffer in silence.
The scandal has sparked a global outcry, with many calling for greater accountability and reform within the Church's leadership structure. Welby has been at the center of attention for months as he grappled with the fallout from the report.
A statement released by the Archbishop's office yesterday described the situation as "unforgivably complex" and acknowledged that "deep-seated failures have occurred."
As the news takes shape, the international community is left to wonder what this development means for the Church of England moving forward. The question on everyone's mind remains: What comes next for Justin Welby and his successor?