FILE – The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby listens to debate at the General Synod in London, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
LONDON (AP) — Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, will wrap up his official duties in early January amid an abuse scandal in the Church of England, his office said Wednesday.
Welby resigned last week after an investigation found that he failed to tell police about serial physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps as soon as he became aware of it. His refusal to accept responsibility for failing to report the abuse in England and in Africa in 2013 kindled anger about a lack of accountability at the highest reaches of the church. Though he acknowledged the mistake, his position became untenable.
His Lambeth Palace office said he intends to complete official duties by Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York and the second-most senior bishop in the Church of England, will take over until a permanent replacement is selected — a process that will take months.
“Following the announcement last week of his resignation as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Justin intends to complete his official duties by the upcoming Feast of Epiphany,’’ Lambeth Palace said in a statement. “Archbishop Justin intends very little public-facing activity between now and Epiphany, but plans to honor a small number of remaining commitments.’’
