Welby sorry after backlash over 'tone deaf' final speech

The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued an apology over his final speech in the House of Lords after leading figures in the Church accused him of making light of serious safeguarding failures in the institution.

- ANGUS THOMPSON

Six bishops have issued public statements criticising Justin Welby's valedictory address on Thursday, with three in charge of safeguarding for the Church of England writing to victims, explaining that his words were “utterly insensitive” and “mistaken and wrong”.

Mr Welby apologised “wholeheartedly for the hurt that my speech has caused” in his farewell remarks given less than a month after his resignation over the damning Makin review, which implicated him in the Church’s failure to protect victims from serial abuser John Smyth.

“I understand that my words – the things that I said, and those I omitted to say – have caused further distress for those who were traumatised, and continue to be harmed, by John Smyth’s heinous abuse, and by the far-reaching effects of other perpetrators of abuse,” Mr Welby said in a statement yesterday afternoon.

“I did not intend to overlook the experience of survivors, or to make light of the situation – and I am very sorry for having done so.”