resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby, a man with an unusual background and notorious outspokenness – Libération

Spiritual leader of the Anglicans since 2013, Justin Welby had established himself as a voice of the left with an unusual career, without succeeding in reconciling the fractures within the Church of England. Singled out for his silence in the case of attacks perpetrated by an influential lawyer, he left his post this Tuesday, November 12.

In 2013, when Justin Welby was nominated to take over the role of Archbishop of Canterbury, commentators were pleasantly surprised by this candidate. «humble», perceived as a good communicator and connected to the real world, at a time when the Church of England was divided on the question of sexuality, equal marriage and the place to be given to women in the clergy. Married, father of six children and late in life as a priest, Welby’s profile seemed so obvious that several betting shops ended up preventing betting on his name.

After eleven years in this position, he announced his resignation this Tuesday, November 12. Not because of these same obstacles, more or less overcome over the years, but in reaction to a scandal of sexual assaults carried out by John Smyth, an influential lawyer of the religious institution whose leaders are now accused of a “cover-up campaign” by an independent report published last week. According to experts, Welby would have “could and should” making a report to the police, around ten years ago, which would possibly have allowed Smyth to be prosecuted during his lifetime. The predator, who allegedly committed physical and sexual abuse of some 130 boys