Church abuse victims 'disgusted' by Welby's speech

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been condemned by victims of the Church of England abuse scandal for a speech they say made light of serious safeguarding failures.

In his first public speech since announcing his resignation last month, Justin Welby told the House of Lords a head had to roll after a review criticised failings in handling of the scandal.

But abuse victims say they were "dismayed" and "disgusted" by the speech, saying it made no mention of any remorse for survivors and struck too "frivolous" a tone with jokes.

The independent Makin review found Welby "could and should" have reported prolific child abuser John Smyth to the police in 2013.

Smyth is believed to have abused more than 100 boys and young men at Christian summer camps in England in the 1970s and 1980s, and later in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

He is thought to have continued his abuse until his 2018 death in Cape Town, aged 75.

The archbishop said in his resignation statement a month ago he "must take personal and institutional responsibility" for how he responded when first told about the abuse.

He said he was "told that police had been notified" in 2013 and that he "believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow".

And he said he resigned "in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse."

The archbishop is due to step down on 6 January, with the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, taking charge until a permanent replacement is found.

The search for a successor is expected to take around six months.

An announcement earlier this week confirmed the bishop Jo Bailey Wells, the archbishop's former personal chaplain, had "stepped back from her ministry" following the Makin report.

A Diocese of London spokesperson said a safeguarding risk assessment would take place.

This comes after Lambeth Palace confirmed on Wednesday that the archbishop would not deliver the traditional Christmas Day sermon at Canterbury Cathedral.