The Anglican Church of Southern Africa has issued an apology following revelations regarding their failure to protect children from John Smyth, a disgraced British clergyman who abused over 100 minors in the UK and Zimbabwe. An independent investigation highlighted the Church's shortcomings in dealing with Smyth's past and its obligations to safeguard congregants.
Anglican Church of Southern Africa Apologizes for Failing to Protect Against Abuser
Anglican Church of Southern Africa Apologizes for Failing to Protect Against Abuser
An independent report reveals the Church's negligence concerning child abuser John Smyth, prompting a formal apology from leadership.
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (Acsa) has formally apologized for its inability to shield children from past abuses linked to John Smyth, a notorious British child abuser who relocated to South Africa in 2001. The 77-year-old Smyth, who passed away in 2018, faced accusations of sexually abusing over 100 minors in the UK and Zimbabwe throughout the 1970s and 1980s, many of whom he met while organizing Christian camps.
An independent review revealed that church leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, should have acted on warnings as early as 2013 to notify authorities in both the UK and South Africa. Following his move to Zimbabwe in 1984, an investigation emerged related to Smyth's abusive conduct, yet the findings were not adequately circulated.
A recent inquiry, initiated by Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba, found no documented abuse cases in South Africa, yet it emphasized the significant risk of potential abuse, attributing this to inadequate protective measures within Acsa during Smyth's residency. The report detailed Smyth's re-engagement with the church community in Durban, where he came into contact with children through confirmation classes.
After being confronted about his past abuses by church leaders in 2003 or 2004, Smyth and his wife moved to Cape Town, joining another Anglican congregation. By August 2013, the Diocese of Ely had informed Acsa of Smyth's background, but he remained part of the Christian community until shortly before his death.
Archbishop Makgoba acknowledged the Church's failures, affirming that children in South Africa were left vulnerable due to church leadership's inaction regarding Smyth's dangerous history. He committed to urgently addressing these oversights to protect future generations from similar risks.
