Archbishop of Canterbury Says Failure on Child Sexual Abuse Is "Knife in Church's Soul"

By Gabriella Swerling
The Telegraph
July 9, 2019

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/09/archbishop-canterbury-says-failure-child-sexual-abuse-knife/

The Archbishop of Canterbury has told Church of England leaders that their failure to deal with child sexual abuse is "a knife in our soul". CREDIT: KIRSTY O'CONNOR /X

The Archbishop of Canterbury has told Church of England leaders that their failure to deal with child sexual abuse is "a knife in our soul".

Speaking at the opening of the General Synod in York on Friday, the Most Rev Justin Welby told an audience of hundreds of synod members that there is much more progress to be made in the wake of the safeguarding scandal.

He said that "every time the Archbishop of York or I see another case where there's a falling short of our response, it is a knife in our soul".

The Archbishop of Canterbury, along with Dr John Sentamu, are due to give evidence at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) later this week.

The Archbishops are the two most senior members of the Church of England. Previous findings from IICSA have already concluded that the Church's response to sexual abuse allegations was "marked by secrecy". This investigation into the Anglican Church is currently assessing the appropriateness of safeguarding and child-protection policies and practices.

It is also considering the adequacy of the Past Cases Review of the Church of England and the Historic Cases Review of the Church in Wales.

In his comments, at Synod on Monday, the Archbishop of Canterbury - who conducted the christening of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son, Archie - was responding to a request for time to debate safeguarding.

However, he said that it would be more appropriate to wait until the conclusion of IICSA. "We speak from the heart, every time," he said.

"We have to have processes and procedures. There's no magic wand. We have to have rules.

"There's no shortcut. But we do that because we are so grievously ashamed of what has happened in this Church over the years.

"We do that because it comes from the heart and that because we seek to change the culture.

"And every time the Archbishop of York or I see another case where there's a falling short of our response, it is a knife in our soul.

"There are many survivors here in the Synod. Some known, some who've never felt they wanted to or were able to speak. There are many survivors among the bishops. They speak from the heart. And from grief."

IICSA will continue to hear evidence from victims and survivors as well as Church leaders and safeguarding experts later this month.

'We are grievously ashamed of what has happened in this Church over the years... and seek to change the culture'.