Police motion needs to be considered over CofE child abuse failings, says reviewer

The creator of the John Smyth review that led to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury has said that police motion needs to be considered over the Church of England’s failings. 

Keith Makin’s damning review, published earlier this month, accused the Church of England of engaging in a “cover-up” of Smyth’s abuse and said that Archbishop Justin Welby had failed personally by not ensuring that it had been reported to police.

Makin discussed the fallout from the review’s publication with Channel 4 News’ Cathy Newman, who was instrumental in bringing Smyth’s abuse to light. 

Asked by Newman whether it could be appropriate to call within the police over the review’s findings, he said, “I feel we’re taking a look at an enormous span of time, and I do think that there must be consideration given as as to whether police motion must be taken. I actually do not know the reply to that.”

Pressing him again, Newman followed, “But you would like that to be considered?”

Makin replied, “I feel it should be considered, yes.” 

He said that there may yet be more resignations in Welby’s wake.

“I feel the church does must look very rigorously at absolutely every part inside its remit. I’m not ready really to comment on any individuals inside that,” he said.

“But if these same sorts of conditions apply to some other senior official, , bishop or whatever inside the church, then yes, the identical should unfold.”

Since Welby announced he was stepping down, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has also faced calls to resign from Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, who was controversially sacked last yr from the Church of England’s disbanded Independent Safeguarding Board. She claimed Cottrell had “ignored” 11 complaints of significant abuse. 

He has denied the allegations and told the Guardian that he had no intention of resigning.

He said the complaints were passed to “other appropriate safeguarding professionals, and Jasvinder is mistaken when she says I ignored them”.

“I’m not going to resign. Like everyone who serves the church, I’m subject to the discipline and authority of the church. If people read the [independent safeguarding board report], they will make their very own conclusions,” he said. 

Lambeth Palace said this week that Welby will step back from all official duties at Epiphany on 6 January. The date on which he formally leaves office is yet to be confirmed.

“Archbishop Justin intends little or no public-facing activity between now and Epiphany, but plans to honour a small variety of remaining commitments,” the announcement said.

“At Epiphany, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s official functions shall be delegated to the Archbishop of York – more details shall be provided on this in the end.”