newsJustin Welby says he hopes a new breed of 21st century “peasants” won’t chop off his head and use it as a football
As the out-going archbishop of Canterbury apologises (yet again ) for making himself look like a fool in the House of Lords, the big question remains un-answered – How many more heads need to roll in a scandal that is paralysing the Anglican Communion?
The outgoing archbishop of Canterbury hopes that no-one will chop his head off and use it as a football. It was meant as a joke. But the only people who laughed when Justin Welby made his farewell speech in the House of Lords on December 5 were a collection of gold-plated Anglicans who fear losing their pensions and palaces if they further rock an already sinking boat. TREVOR GRUNDY reports –
This is what Welby said:
“It is often said – and it is a cliché to say it but hey! I’m the archbishop still – that if you want to make God laugh, make plans.
“Well, on that basis, next year I will be causing God more hilarity than anyone else for many years because the plans for next year were very detailed and if you pity anyone, pity my poor diary secretary who has seen weeks and months of work disappear in the puff of a resignation announcement.
“The reality, which I wish to start with and then about housing, the reality is that there was a time, if you are technically leading a particular institution, or area of responsibility, where the share of what has gone wrong, whether one is responsible or not, must require a head to roll. And there is in this case, there is only one head that rolls well enough. I hope not literally.
“One of my predecessors in 1371* Simon of Sudbury had his head cut off and it was then when the revolting peasants of the time played football with it at the Tower of London.
“I don’t know who won.
“It was certainly not Simon of Sudbury. (editor writes – Bishops behind Welby smiled and laughed).
“The reality that the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in the Church of England todays is thanks to thousands, and tens of thousands, of people across the church, particularly in parishes and safeguarding offices, is a completely different picture to the past.”
*The incident took place in 1381, not 1371.
Justin Welby at the 10th World Council of Churches meeting in Busan, South Korea in 2013 (Picture: Trevor Grundy)
Church abuse victims were disgusted by Welby’s speech. They want to know who else will be named and hopefully shamed following revelations that Welby and others protected John Smyth (now dead) who abused about 130 young men who were students at some of Britain’s best known and most expensive schools. He carried on when living and working in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
On November 14, 2024 the Daily Mail named some of the dignitaries who have questions to answer.
Canon Andrew Cores who is a member of the Crown Nominations Commission that will shortlist the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
Rev Stephen Conway who was Bishop of Ely in 2013 when one of Smyth’s victims informed his diocese of abuse allegations.
Rev Dr Jo Bailey Wells, who was chaplain to Justin Welby in 2013 when he was informed about Smyth’s abuse. She has been asked to pause her ministry as the Bishop for Episcopal Ministry.
Rev Sue Colman who sent money to Smyth in Zimbabwe where he continued abusing children and young men. She has been asked to step back from church activities after being named in the abuse report which prompted Welby to finally resign as archbishop of Canterbury.
Rev High Palmer, a chaplain to the late Queen Elizabeth 11 and Rector of All Souls Langham Place.
So far, the only Anglican Bishop worthy of respect is the Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley(pictured).
This young woman is the only Anglican leader to have the courage to call for the resignation of Welby.
Without her voice, he might have stayed on as leader of the 850 million strong worldwide Anglican Communion.
She says she been cold-shouldered by her peers and points towards “a culture of silence and fear” in the Church of England whose supreme governor is King Charles 111.