He admitted Justin Welby that he 'is wrong' when dealing with accusations of sexual abuse of children against John Smyth.
But the former Archbishop of Canterbury defended his record after a report revealed that he was not sufficiently followed up on reports about Smyth, a lawyer who was productively involved in the Church of England.
Smyth subject more than 100 boys and young men to 'traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks' in the course of five decades and died without being brought to court. But his abuse had been an open secret among the clergy.
Welby now admits that he was wrong when he could not act on allegations that were presented to him – but claims that he was simply overwhelmed by the extent of the abuse that Smyth had found later.
However, he was heavily criticized for his apparent blasé perspective on the scandal, using his house of Lord's resignation speech to make jokes and to appear on a British Museum Gala a day after announcing his intention to stop.
Welby spoke with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: “Every day more cases came about the agency that had been in the past, not sufficiently treated, and this was just, it was another case.”
The ex -cake bishop knew Smyth from his time in Iwerne Trust Holiday Camps in Dorset – where further abuse would have been committed by the lawyer – but denied that a role played in his decision not to mark the authorities to the authorities.
“Yes, I knew Smyth, but it was an absolutely overwhelming few weeks,” he added.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has his absence to report abuse by lawyer John Smyth, claiming that he was 'overwhelmed'
John Smyth appeared to have abused more than 100 children and young men for almost five decades. He died in 2018, after he had avoided justice
Welby was sworn in as Archbishop of Canterbury, the oldest spiritual spiritual of the church of England, in 2013 (photo)
'It was overwhelming, people tried to give priority – but I think it is easy to sound defensive about this.
“The reality is that I am wrong. As an archbishop there are no apologies. '
But one of the victims of Smyth, who reported his abuse in 2013, said the broadcaster: “No one should be too busy to handle protection.”
And Andrew Graystone, a advocate for victims and survivors of the abuse of Smyth, said: “Justin Welby says that he was” overwhelmed “by the volume of the security errors he had to deal with.
'My experience and that of the victims I speak is that the church is still overwhelmed. After 12 years of leadership of Justin Welby, there is little improvement in the way senior church leaders understand victims and provide victims.
'Victims and survivors still come to the fore every day with complaints about how they were treated – not only by their abusers – but by the church. And the treatment they receive is still sad. '
The Makin Review showed that Smyth – who represented the Christian morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse – was perhaps brought to court as Dr. Welby had reported the allegations to the police in 2013.
Welby's were not the only shortcomings: Winchester College, where many of the victims of Smyth went, forbade the abuser of the site, but did not report him to the police and an investigation into the field of the holiday camp was swept under the carpet.
An abuse case in Zimbabwe, where he moved, was fired and Smyth was removed as a church leader in Cape Town after claims of inappropriate behavior.
Smyth finally died in 2018 in South Africa, one year after the first accusations of abuse against him were made public.
Faced by Channel 4 News in 2017, the abuser said: 'I am not talking about that. I don't know anything about that. I don't answer any questions. '
Welby's repentance comes after he had previously planned to continue with public tasks, including Christmas procedures before resigning.
He had said in his declaration of dismissal that it was his duty to honor my constitutional and church responsibilities in January, which were set to include Christmas services. Outrage set to that plan.
Welby initially refused to resign after the Makin Review concluded that he did not report the abuse of Smyth to the authorities
He finally admitted – but initially intended to host Christmas services before he stopped, and gave an inappropriate jovial dismissal speech in the House of Lords (photo)
He was also cornered by private -ye editor Ian Hislop on a British Museum Gala that he shamelessly attended one day after he announced his resignation.
Hislop wrote in the magazine and criticized those who approached Welby to comfort him after resigning.
He said: 'These specific Christians wanted to forgive each other far too slowly for their sins and far too slow to look for justice for the poor victims in their herd.
'Welby did not seem to be repentant and priceless. I am not convinced that he has been punished enough – in contrast to the poor guys who have melted his friend so mercilessly in the name of Christianity. '
And he led to further indignation after giving a jocular dismissal speech in the House of Lords in which he joked that 'had a head' about the scandal – before he made a gross reference to Archbishop Simon from Sudbury from the 14th century, who was beheaded.
“My gentlemen, it is often said and it is a cliché to say it – but hey, I am still the Archbishop – that if you want to make God laugh, make plans,” he said.
Dame Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London, was visibly visible who held her hand against her face during the collected Valedictory Speech.
Welby later apologized for the cause of 'further need' for Smyth's victims with his self -operated farewell.
