Survivors of clergy abuse have reacted with fury to the archbishop of Canterbury’s suggestion that the Duke of York was “seeking to make amends” after settling a sexual assault case.
Andrew Graystone, who advocates on behalf of survivors, said: “Victims of clergy abuse have spoken to me about their shock that Justin Welby should speak about forgiveness and reconciliation when the church hasn’t begun to address its own debts.”
The Church of England had repeatedly failed to listen to victims and deal effectively with abusers, he said. “If Welby wants to discuss issues of justice, mercy and reconciliation – and if he wants to give a lead to the nation on those things – he needs to get his own church in order first.
“Welby says we should cut Prince Andrew some slack because he is ‘seeking to make amends’ for what he may have done. Where are the signs that [the C of E] is seeking to make amends for those it has grievously abused?”
Matthew Ineson, a survivor of clergy abuse, said Welby’s comments came from the “head of an institution that has – and still does – habitually covered up and colluded with abuse”. He added: “Welby himself habitually takes ‘no further action’ against bishops who ignore disclosures of rape and abuse and therefore allows the abuse to continue.”
In an interview with ITV on Tuesday, Welby called on people “to step back a bit” and said the Queen’s second son was seeking to make amends, adding: “I think that’s a very good thing.”
He added: “Forgiveness really does matter. I think we have become a very, very unforgiving society. There’s a difference between consequences and forgiveness. I think for all of us, one of the ways that we celebrate when we come together is in learning to be a more open and forgiving society.”
Lambeth Palace later clarified that Welby was not referring specifically to Prince Andrew when he spoke of forgiveness. A statement from Welby issued after the interview was broadcast said the issues of forgiveness and reconciliation were complex and “difficult to address in a short media interview”.
In 2020, the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse concluded that the C of E had protected its own reputation above its “explicit moral purpose”. An investigation into how the church handled disclosures of sexual abuse found that allegations against priests were ignored, minimised or dismissed by church leaders.
Welby has repeatedly apologised to survivors for abuse carried out by clergy.
