C of E ‘covered up’ attacks by serial abuser Smyth in ‘appalling’ safeguarding failings

Church of England accused of systematic failures that allowed a serial abuser to escape justice and continue offending

The Church of England has been accused of a litany of safeguarding failings that allowed a serial abuser to escape justice and continue offending for decades.

An independent review into the case of John Smyth, a former Church of England priest, has found that the church failed to properly investigate allegations of abuse made against him, failed to take appropriate action to protect children, and failed to cooperate with the police.

The review, which was commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, found that the church's safeguarding policies and procedures were "not fit for purpose" and that there was a "culture of secrecy and defensiveness" within the church that prevented allegations of abuse from being properly investigated.

The review also found that the church had failed to learn from its mistakes in the past and that there was a lack of accountability for those responsible for safeguarding children.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologized for the church's failings and has pledged to implement the review's recommendations.