DISGRACED ex-Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby yesterday said he forgives Church of England serial paedophile John Smyth.
Welby, 68, quit in November after a report criticised his handling of allegations about the Christian camp leader, who sexually assaulted 130 boys and young men.
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But questioned yesterday if he would personally be able to forgive the sex abuser if he were still alive today — Smyth died aged 77 in 2018 — he said: “Yes, I think if he was alive and I saw him.
“But it’s not, it’s not me he has abused.
“He’s abused the victims and survivors.
“So, whether I forgive or not is, to a large extent, irrelevant.”
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Last year’s independent Makin Review suggested Smyth, whose abuse spanned five decades, could have been brought to justice while still alive back in 2013 had Mr Welby reported allegations to the police at that time.
Asked if he hoped to be able to get forgiveness from Smyth’s victims, Mr Welby told the BBC: “Obviously, but it’s not about me.
“When we talk about safeguarding, the centre of it is the victims and survivors.”