Contrary to rumors, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has not resigned, but the Church of England has come under scrutiny for its response to historical abuse cases. Recent investigations, especially the Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2), have revealed the mishandling of abuse cases within the church over several decades.
Source:- bbc news
This extensive review uncovered hundreds of new allegations, including cases involving both children and vulnerable adults. PCR2’s findings exposed serious failures in safeguarding, showing that prior processes often failed to protect victims and even allowed convicted clergy members to rejoin church roles due to a lack of comprehensive checks
Source:- news 18
The PCR2 report reviewed over 75,000 files dating as far back as the 1940s, identifying 383 new cases, with the most common allegations relating to sexual abuse. These findings prompted apologies from both Archbishop Welby and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. The leaders acknowledged the “profound shame” brought by these revelations and expressed deep regret for the church’s failure to act decisively on previous complaints. They pledged to work toward a safer church environment, emphasizing that there is “no possible excuse” for the church’s past failures to protect vulnerable members
Despite the church’s efforts to address abuse, critics argue that its responses have been slow and inadequate. Some survivors have expressed disappointment with the church’s ability to make meaningful reforms, pointing out that gaps in safeguarding procedures have allowed offenders to remain in positions of trust. Archbishop Welby has consistently called for improving the church’s safeguarding measures, ensuring that future responses prioritize survivor support and comprehensive abuse prevention policies. PCR2 is considered one of the most in-depth reviews of abuse in the Church of England, highlighting systemic problems that many hope will now be properly addressed to prevent further suffering
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