The Archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to apologise for his “hurtful” final speech in the House of Lords after being accused of “making light” of his scandal-ridden resignation.
The disgraced religious leader referenced a 14th-century beheading in the Lords, which prompted laughter from some peers – but given his resignation over the John Smyth scandal, his words sparked uproar from bishops and abuse survivors alike.
Now, the Archbishop has apologised.
“Yesterday, I gave my farewell speech in the House of Lords, as part of a debate on housing and homelessness,” he said.
“I would like to apologise wholeheartedly for the hurt that my speech has caused.
PA
“I understand that my words – the things that I said, and those I omitted to say – have caused further distress for those who were traumatised, and continue to be harmed by John Smyth’s heinous abuse and by the far-reaching effects of other perpetrators of abuse.
“It did not intend to overlook the experience of survivors or to make light of the situation – and I am very sorry for having done so.
“It remains the case that I take both personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period after 2013, and the harm that this has caused survivors.
“I continue to feel a profound sense of shame at the Church of England’s historic safeguarding failures.”
MORE ON THE ARCHBISHOP:
Welby admitted his words ’caused further distress for those who were traumatised by John Smyth’s heinous abuse’
CHANNEL 4
Mark Stibbe, who was groomed and beaten by Smyth in the 1970s, condemned the Archbishop’s initial Lords remarks.
He said: “I object to the use of such a frivolous tone in such a serious matter – a matter that has been, and continues to be, a matter of life and death to some.”
Another victim, identified as Graham Jones in the Makin report which uncovered Smyth’s abuse, told the BBC he was “disgusted by the speech”.
“It did not appear to be one of sorrow which is what was required,” Jones added.
Ian Hislop accused Welby of making a ‘shameless’ appearance at the British Museum just one day after his resignation
PA
The Archbishop’s apology follows similar accusations of making light of a dire situation – just one day after his resignation, Welby is reported to have made a “shameless” appearance at a British Museum trustees’ dinner, before being pulled up by Private Eye editor Ian Hislop.
Hislop, whose magazine has covered the Church of England abuse scandal for some time, said Welby had approached his group and introduced himself, before looking around and commenting: “Isn’t this lovely?”
The Have I Got News For You panellist added that he replied: “I am afraid at this point I couldn’t contain myself, and refused to allow him to use the politeness of the British establishment to get away with what I thought was extraordinarily shameless behaviour. I said: ‘It is lovely that you have resigned.'”
Lambeth Palace has said it does not comment on private conversations.
