Bishops of Sheffield and Doncaster issue statement after Archbishop of Canterbury resigns
The Right Reverend Nick Baines has spoken out - after Justin Welby quit earlier today
The Bishops of Sheffield and Doncaster have issued a joint statement on an abuse scandal which has engulfed the Church of England.
Earlier, The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced he will resign, following days of pressure after a damning review into how the church dealt with allegations against a serial abuser.
The independent Makin Review concluded that barrister John Smyth might have been brought to justice had the archbishop formally alerted authorities in 2013.
Mr Welby had apologised but stated that he would not resign, following the review's publication last week.
But in a statement on Tuesday, he said: "Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.
"The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.
"When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.
"It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024."
The Bishop of Sheffield, Pete Wilcox and the Bishop of Doncaster Sophie Jelley said:
“As Bishops in the Church of England, we acknowledge with a heavy heart the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury following serious safeguarding failures within our Church."
"Our foremost thoughts and prayers are with survivors of abuse whose lives have been deeply affected by these failures.
"The pain they have endured and the courage they have shown deserve our utmost respect and compel us to listen, to learn, and to act with integrity.
"We renew our apologies to all who have been hurt and are committed to continually strengthening our safeguarding practices to ensure that our diocese, and the wider Church, is a safe place.
"Let us join together in prayer for all who have been harmed, for the Archbishop who has made the right decision today, and for our Church as we work towards a future that reflects Christ’s love, justice, and mercy.”