Church of England Report Exposes Decades of Child Abuse Cover-Up
An independent review found that John Smyth QC, a British barrister, abused over 100 children and young men over several decades, with the Church of England covering up his actions. Smyth, who died in 2018, was accused of physically abusing boys at his home, whom he had met at Christian summer camps. Despite knowledge of his abuse dating back to the 1980s, Smyth was not reported to the police and was allowed to leave the country. The review concluded that the Church of England failed to protect its young members and ultimately contributed to Smyth’s continued abuse. The Archbishop of Canterbury has since apologized to the victims and acknowledged the church’s shortcomings in addressing the abuse.
John Q. Hosedrinker