Justin Welby leaves office after a turbulent 12 years
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has officially left office, laying down his bishop’s crozier on the altar at Lambeth Palace chapel during evensong, marking the end of his 12 year tenure. There were separate services at lunchtime and at the end of the evening, as staff and people he had worked with, gathered by invitation to say farewell. Yesterday was also his 69th birthday and there was a birthday celebration and an afternoon tea party with guests. Dr Welby took the unprecedented step of resigning over the church’s handling of abuse allegations against John Smyth, who groomed teenage boys and young men at the Iwerne Christian summer camps, which Welby attended in his youth. The Makin review told the story of a cover up in the Church of England and failure to act, saying Welby should and could have done more to bring Smyth to justice. Reports of his final day from The Times, The Telegraph and The Church Times
Archbishop of York takes over a church in turmoil today
Today the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, steps up to take on the role of Archbishop of Canterbury, until a successor is appointed. He will be at work at Lambeth Palace and staff have been asked to come into work today as he takes the reins. The church is in turmoil, split with threats of schism due to disagreements over blessing same sex couples, and riven with angry protests over safeguarding failures, with survivors and their representatives pleading for a decision on a new independent process and then action to resolve outstanding cases. Stephen Cottrell himself has faced calls to resign over his own handling of the case of a sex abuser priest in the diocese of Chelmsford. In a pastoral letter published yesterday on the feast of the Epiphany, he said the church had been through a period of darkness in recent weeks, after the Makin review, and repeated “To those who have been hurt, I offer my deepest apologies”. He said he was committed to action with a process for independent safeguarding to be voted on at the February synod, and the church “will consider introducing bespoke services” for same sex blessings, with provision for opponents, but not “in a way that further breaks the Body of Christ.” Stephen Cottrell is 67 and therefore considered out of the running to take over on a permanent basis, as bishops have to retire at 70. The selection process is expected to take at least nine months.
Failure to report child sexual abuse will become a crime
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced that anyone working with children who fails to report child sexual abuse will in future face professional and criminal sanctions. Speaking in the Commons, she said people failing to report abuse could be sacked and barred from working with children, while people who prevented others from reporting such crimes could face several years in jail. She said the “protection of institutions must never be put before the protection of children”. The Home Secretary also announced that judges would be given power to jail people accused of grooming children, for longer periods.
Policy Exchange report on Muslim Council of Britain election
The Muslim Council of Britain has criticised a report from the think tank Policy Exchange, which publishes historical quotes from the two candidates standing for election as the MCB’s next Secretary General. The report, picked up by several newspapers, says medical doctor, Dr Mohammed Wajid Akhter, has advocated in the past that British Muslims should identify primarily as Muslim rather than as British. The other candidate, consultant physician Dr Muhammad Adrees, is accused of supporting Iran and saying mixed gender New Year celebrations may be un-Islamic. Both men are accused of being linked to The Muslim Vote. Dr Akhter said the report misrepresented and distorted his views and his vision was to “foster unity among all Britons”. The Muslim Council of Britain told the Middle East Eye that the Policy Exchange had a long history of hostility towards British Muslims: “As for the specific allegations raised, we trust our affiliates will scrutinise candidates thoroughly in the weeks ahead at our hustings events and through the democratic process.”
Progressive cardinal appointed to Washington DC as Trump takes office
Pope Francis has named the progressive Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego as the new Archbishop of Washington DC, taking a role in the capital at the start of Donald Trump’s second administration. The Associated Press reports that at a press conference, McElroy, aged 70, hoped the incoming administration would work to make America a better place. But he also said Trump’s threats of mass deportations of immigrants were policies “incompatible with Catholic doctrine”. He has spoken out on social justice issues, the human dignity of the unborn and immigrants, nonviolence, pastoral outreach to people with same-sex attraction and to divorced and remarried Catholics. He is also noted for his environmental protection efforts in the Diocese of San Diego, saying that stewardship of creation is the top issue. The archdiocese has been recovering after a 2018 sex abuse scandal, when a report detailing crimes of 300 predator priests led to the resignation of then Archbishop Cardinal Donald Wuerl.
Woman appointed to lead Vatican department for the first time
An Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, has been appointed to lead the Vatican department responsible for all the Catholic Church’s religious orders. It is the first time a woman has been given such a job and follows promises made after the October synod meeting in Rome. She will be responsible for every religious order, from the Jesuits and Franciscans to the Mercy nuns and smaller newer movements.
‘Charming’ Church of England synod chairman has died aged 77
Geoffrey Tattersall KC, who chaired some of the Church of England’s most acrimonious debates with a wit and relaxed manner that charmed even the most hardline speakers, has died at the age of 77. Born in Lancashire in 1947, he was Diocesan Chancellor in both Carlisle and Manchester and chair of the Clergy Disciplinary Tribunal. He became Vicar General to the Diocese of Sodor and Man from 2015-2019, and the Isle of Man’s Judge of Appeal from 1997-2017. He leaves his wife Hazel, their children and families. The Archbishop of York described him as ‘very much a gift to us all.’
