November 7th 2024.
John Smyth, a well-known barrister, passed away before he could face the consequences of his heinous actions. He had been accused of abusing over 100 children and young men, and a recent report has revealed that the Church of England had been covering up his crimes for years.
According to the report by Hampshire Police, John Smyth is believed to be one of the most prolific serial abusers associated with the church. He was accused of abusing around 130 boys over a period of five decades in both the UK and Africa. Sadly, he was never brought to justice for his actions, and he passed away in 2018 at the age of 75.
The report also highlighted that Smyth's abuse was first identified back in the 1980s, but he was never fully exposed or held accountable for his actions. This allowed him to continue abusing children for many years. While around 30 boys and young men were known to have been physically and psychologically abused in the UK, the report states that the actual number may be much higher, with approximately 85 boys and young men being physically abused in African countries such as Zimbabwe.
Keith Makin, who led the independent review, stated that despite some individuals' efforts to bring Smyth's abuse to the attention of authorities, the response from the Church of England and others was ineffective and amounted to a cover-up. This revelation has led to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby issuing an apology for the church's failure to address the issue.
The review, which was commissioned after Smyth's death by the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, also revealed that some argued that Smyth's actions were simply examples of "over-enthusiastic corporal punishment." However, the report made it clear that his actions were criminal and should have been prevented.
Sadly, the report also stated that Smyth was able to move to Zimbabwe and South Africa, where he continued to abuse children, while church officials were aware of his actions but failed to take the necessary steps to stop him.
It was also revealed that the Church of England was aware of Smyth's abuse at the highest level since July 2013, but failed to take appropriate action. The report states that he should have been reported to the police in the UK and relevant authorities in South Africa. This missed opportunity may have resulted in an ongoing threat to the safety of children until his death in 2018.
In a joint statement, the Church of England's lead safeguarding bishop and national director of safeguarding expressed their deep sorrow for the horrific abuse inflicted by Smyth and the lifelong effects it has had on his victims. They acknowledged that no words could undo the damage done by him and the failure of individuals in the church and other institutions to respond appropriately.
Even Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has apologized for his failure to ensure that allegations against Smyth were thoroughly investigated. He stated that he had no idea or suspicion of Smyth's abuse before 2013, but the report concluded that he, along with other church officials, should have reported Smyth to the police and relevant authorities at that time.
In his own statement, Welby stated that he was deeply sorry for the concealment of Smyth's abuse by many people who were fully aware of it, which allowed him to continue his abuse and escape justice. He also acknowledged that the church's response to victims and survivors has changed significantly in the past 11 years and that measures have been put in place to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
He ended by thanking the victims for their courage and apologizing for his own failures and the church's cover-up. He also expressed hope that the report would serve as a step towards a safer church and bring at least some comfort to the victims.
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