Source: BBC News [UK State Media]
“A Church of England bishop has called on the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign, calling his position ‘untenable’ after a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church. Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley is the most senior member of the Church to call on the Most Reverend Justin Welby to stand down, following the ‘horrific, horrendous and shocking’ report. Mr Welby is facing mounting pressure to resign after it emerged last week that he did not follow up rigorously enough on reports of John Smyth QC’s ‘abhorrent’ abuse of more than 100 boys and young men. A review of the Church’s handling of Smyth’s case said the archbishop ‘could and should’ have reported the case to authorities when details were presented to him in 2013.” (11/11/24)