Farewell and good riddance

Awful weak man.
Anyway he’s apologised. In the Telegraph today. I’ll find it & cut and paste because it’s behind a paywall.
Back in a minute …

Why do these men have to be shamed into apologising?

Septimia

Thanks for the link OldFrill.

Welby and others' behaviour makes a mockery of what we try to do at parish level.

I think this is fair comment, but Welby's (and others') repeated lack of empathy and arrogance continues to discredit the Church. It remains to be seen who will replace him, and whether he will take a seat in the HoL (it's not been ruled out).

Thanks for the link OldFrill.

Welby and others' behaviour makes a mockery of what we try to do at parish level.

He showed no remorse for all those abused young people. His only remorse was for himself and his staff who may have some work to do. Totally disgusted.

Septimia

I have to confess to not reading the Makin Report - I tend to avoid reading anything remotely political because I usually get too annoyed when I can't do anything about it.

Obviously if the 30 or so people who should have done something, and knew what they should do, didn't do it they should resign. Sometimes you can know the right thing to do but doing it is tricky - no excuse, you have to find a way in circumstances like these.

And when you resign you leave quietly and discreetly.

It's an independent report and l think every member of the Church of England has a duty to read it. I'm surprised it's not part of safeguarding training, at least. It can be accessed via this link.

You might like a strong cuppa and a box of tissues to hand. It has exceptionally hard reading.
www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/independent-review-churchs-handling-smyth-case-published

Septimia
And when you resign you leave quietly and discreetly.

IMO he shouldn’t have been expected or asked or allowed to give a farewell speech. Shame on all those who invited, expected or allowed it to happen.

Sheila Fogarty will be discussing this on LBC radio at 2pm

I have to confess to not reading the Makin Report - I tend to avoid reading anything remotely political because I usually get too annoyed when I can't do anything about it.

Obviously if the 30 or so people who should have done something, and knew what they should do, didn't do it they should resign. Sometimes you can know the right thing to do but doing it is tricky - no excuse, you have to find a way in circumstances like these.

And when you resign you leave quietly and discreetly.

He's an absolute disgrace. Obviously raging that he's had to stand down.

Wyllow3

The Smythe issue will not be resolved until people feel that the 30 or so senior people named as "should have taken action" have been called to account. From the outside, it’s hard to see whats happening on this.

Sarnia

pascal30

I saw a little part of this ceremony.. I was also struck by the woman with her head down looking most discomforted.. I think women are definitely the way forward for the church..

That lady was the Bishop of London, pascal30. She was the only female Bishop and the only one to look appalled. I agree with you when you say women are the way forward.

They've stood up and stood out 👏👏

Parsley3

I saw it too and was astonished by his lighthearted tone. He more or less said that he a scapegoat. There was much chuckling in the male ranks but the Bishop with her head in her hands said it all for me.

Totally agree Parsley3 He was actually smirking at one point. Unfit to hold that rank or indeed any rank within the church.

pascal30

I saw a little part of this ceremony.. I was also struck by the woman with her head down looking most discomforted.. I think women are definitely the way forward for the church..

That lady was the Bishop of London, pascal30. She was the only female Bishop and the only one to look appalled. I agree with you when you say women are the way forward.

We've had a very long thread on the Makin report already and it's clear as I already sad there are 30 or so people who need calling out badly. Unless the police get involved, I'm not sure of the means by which this can be done within the C or E, does anyone know?

Welby's speech was appalling: it could have been so very different. I wouldn't expect him to name names but had expected remorse, sadness, regret, and a pledge to those who were abused.

I saw a little part of this ceremony.. I was also struck by the woman with her head down looking most discomforted.. I think women are definitely the way forward for the church..

There are so many men still like this
I despair it will ever change
Very very depressing

Septimia

I honestly think that people didn't know what to do in the past - they just moved the problem person on.

I'm most certainly not condoning that, or the lack of effort by people more recently to deal with it properly. It just shows that they were/are weak and ineffectual and not worthy of respect or their position in society.

Have you read the Makin report? The people who covered up the abuse knew exactly what they were doing, and knew exactly what they should have done.

I honestly think that people didn't know what to do in the past - they just moved the problem person on.

I'm most certainly not condoning that, or the lack of effort by people more recently to deal with it properly. It just shows that they were/are weak and ineffectual and not worthy of respect or their position in society.

Shocking, just when you think it can’t get worse, it does.
I don’t agree with the suggestion that more senior people in the Church may have missed out on safeguarding training, somehow minimising their failure to act. Safeguarding isn’t a new thing. It’s been top priority for sure since the 1980’s when all organisations were expected to have written policies.
Are we expected to believe that no one was able to identify beating the buttocks of boys and young men until they bled was abuse? Also that the behaviour wasn’t linked to sexual activity.
Welby and the row if bishops behind him should be ashamed. Sadly, they clearly arent

Ugh. What a disgrace he is, and the sycophants on the row behind are as bad. Joking about the people we should feel sorry for being his staff. This was a missed opportunity to show real compassion for all the poor victims of a hideous paedophile.

I disliked him before but now I’m astounded at his arrogance. He’s a most unpleasant man in my opinion and unfit for the role he occupied.

It just proves he had to go. Not fit to be A of C. I’ve been reading elsewhere that the number of diocese officials has increased dramatically particularly with inclusivity etc officers. This leaves lest money for parishes which have been forced to amalgamate leaving the poor vicar rushed off his feet.

Septimia - It was the Makin report, the survivors and every decent person who pushed for him to him to go, it should not stop with him.

Septimia

I didn't see it but would point out that it was our, female, Bishop of Newcastle who pushed for him to go. He was shoehorned into Durham, briefly, in preparation for Canterbury.

With regard to safeguarding, those of us involved at parish level are now obliged to undertake safeguarding training and know when to report concerns to safeguarding officers and on up the line. I think, perhaps, those in more senior positions haven't had the same training and don't know what to do when a problem occurs (more so in the past). They need strict guidelines as to the correct procedures, the same as the rest of us.

I think, perhaps, those in more senior positions haven't had the same training and don't know what to do when a problem occurs (more so in the past). They need strict guidelines as to the correct procedures, the same as the rest of us

This seems to be an attempt at excusing the many clergy who deliberated covered up the abuse.
There is no excuse. I don't understand why Welby was allowed to make the speech, it was disgusting as is he and all the others that turned the other cheek.
Why on earth would more senior members not have the same training as lesser mortals, beggars belief.