Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, resigns over sex abuse scandal
London: The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned on Tuesday after a report concluded that he had failed to pursue a proper investigation into claims of widespread abuse of boys and young men decades ago at Christian summer camps.
“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatizing period between 2013 and 2024,” the cleric said. “I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England,” he added.
As many as 130 boys and young men in Britain and Africa are believed to have been sexually abused by John Smyth, an attorney, who operated children’s camps connected to the Church of England, which Welby has led since 2013, as per the report published last week. It identified that Welby did not inform authorities when he learned of Smyth’s abuses in 2013, shortly after becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. The report suggested that if Welby had acted sooner, some abuse cases might have been prevented.
Pressure had mounted rapidly on Welby, who serves as the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, and clergy members launched a petition calling for his resignation.
Under the Church of England's rules, managing the selection of Welby's successor falls to a committee known as the Crown Nominations Commission, a group that presents candidates for the role of Archbishop. It will recommend the name of a preferred candidate to the Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will then advise King Charles III on the final appointment.
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Modi feels copy of Constitution I carry is blank as he has never read it: Rahul Gandhi
Nandurbar (Maharashtra) (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi feels the "red book" of the Constitution which Gandhi carries is blank as he has never read it.
Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Nandurbar, Gandhi said the Constitution contains the soul of India and the principles envisaged by national icons like Birsa Munda, Dr B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
"The BJP has objections to the red colour of the book (which Gandhi has been displaying in rallies). But for us, irrespective of the colour, we are committed to preserve it (Constitution) and ready to give up our lives too. Modi ji feels the Constitution (book) is blank because he has never read it," he said.
Congress wants adivasis, Dalits and backward classes to get representation in decision-making, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Notably, BJP leaders in their campaign for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, have sought to link the "red book" displayed by Gandhi to "urban Naxalism".
Gandhi alleged that PM Modi and the BJP were insulting the national icons by making such comments.
The BJP and RSS insult tribals by referring them as "vanvasi" instead of adivasi, he charged.
"Adivasis are the first owners of the country and have the first right on jal (water), jungle (forest) and zameen (land). But the BJP wants adivasis to remain in the jungle without any rights. Birsa Munda fought for this and laid down his life,'' Gandhi said.
Highlighting the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) manifesto, Gandhi said women, farmers and youth will be protected with provisions like Rs 3,000 monthly assistance and free bus travel, farm loan waiver up to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4,000 per month assistance for unemployed youth.
He reiterated the demand for a caste census, saying it will help to ascertain the number of adivasis, Dalits and backward classes in Maharashtra and how much is their share in resources.
At present, out of the eight per cent tribal population, their share in decision-making is only one per cent, Gandhi claimed.
He also alleged that five lakh jobs from Maharashtra have been snatched as various big ticket projects have been shifted to other states.
"Our government will not allow this. Projects meant for Maharashtra will remain here while those meant for Gujarat will stay there,'' he said.
