Church of England facing calls for further resignations after Archbishop Justin Welby quits in child abuse scandal
THE Church of England is facing calls for further resignations after Archbishop Justin Welby quit in a child abuse scandal.
Bishop of Birkenhead Julie Conalty said there could still be abuse in the church.
She said Welby’s resignation was right but warned it was “not going to solve the problem”.
Ms Conalty, who is also deputy lead bishop for safeguarding, told the BBC: “Very possibly, some other people should go.
“I’m not here to name names.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, a practising Anglican, echoed her comments.
He said he felt a “deep sense of shame” about the institution’s failures, adding: “This is happening time and time and time again.
“So it is right that the Archbishop of Canterbury has taken responsibility for his failures.
“What I would say — and I’m speaking as an Anglican, not as a Government minister — to other leaders of my church is that don’t think that one head rolling solves the problem.
“There are fundamental issues of practice and culture.
“The culture of cover-up has been part of the problem on serious abuse allegations for far too long.”
Survivors have also called for more heads to roll. One said: “There are countless other Anglican churchmen who equally bear responsibility.”
Mr Welby quit earlier this week over a report criticising his handling of allegations against Christian camp leader John Smyth, who sexually assaulted 130 boys and young men.