In a heartfelt statement, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (Acsa) expressed remorse over its failure to shield children from John Smyth, a British-born abuser who relocated to South Africa in 2001. Smyth, who died in 2018, was previously implicated in abusing over 100 minors in the UK and Zimbabwe during the 1970s and 1980s, often at Christian camps he organized.
**Anglican Church of Southern Africa Apologizes for Past Failures in Child Protection**
**Anglican Church of Southern Africa Apologizes for Past Failures in Child Protection**
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa acknowledges its shortcomings in safeguarding children from a notorious abuser, as new findings reveal past negligence.
An independent inquiry prompted by Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba has uncovered a troubling history of negligence within the church. The inquiry revealed that while there were no documented cases of Smyth abusing children in South Africa, the risk remained significantly high during his time there. The investigation highlighted that the Church failed to act on a warning received in 2013 about Smyth's behavior, leading to significant regret from church leaders.
The report also outlined Smyth's active participation in Anglican community activities in Durban, where he engaged with young children. Church leaders confronted him about his past conduct, leading to his departure from the community. However, subsequent oversight allowed his relocation to another church, where warnings about him were not adequately communicated.
Archbishop Makgoba has committed to implementing urgent changes to prevent similar oversights in the future, emphasizing the importance of protecting congregants and the community at large. Reflecting on these findings, its evident that the past failures of Acsa serve as a stark reminder of the need for rigorous safeguards against child abuse within religious organizations.
The report also outlined Smyth's active participation in Anglican community activities in Durban, where he engaged with young children. Church leaders confronted him about his past conduct, leading to his departure from the community. However, subsequent oversight allowed his relocation to another church, where warnings about him were not adequately communicated.
Archbishop Makgoba has committed to implementing urgent changes to prevent similar oversights in the future, emphasizing the importance of protecting congregants and the community at large. Reflecting on these findings, its evident that the past failures of Acsa serve as a stark reminder of the need for rigorous safeguards against child abuse within religious organizations.
