Investigation Reveals Gaps in the Church’s Response to John Smyth’s Abuses
John Smyth, an evangelical barrister, is alleged to have abused around 130 boys and young men across the UK, Zimbabwe, and potentially South Africa. An independent review indicates he may have continued abusing youths in South Africa while details about his time there remain sparse. The Church of England has faced criticism for not reporting Smyth to authorities sooner, resulting in a missed opportunity to bring him to justice before his death in 2018.
John Smyth, an evangelical barrister, is alleged to have abused approximately 130 boys and young men across various countries, including the UK and Zimbabwe, with indications suggesting he may have continued this abuse in South Africa. An independent review into the Anglican Church’s management of Smyth’s known abuses reveals a concerning lack of concrete information. This deficiency was compounded further by the fact that Archbishop Justin Welby did not report Smyth to authorities in 2013 when he gained knowledge of the allegations. Subsequently, Smyth evaded justice until his death in South Africa in 2018 while a police investigation, initiated after a Channel 4 documentary in 2017, was ongoing. Smyth’s abusive behavior was first uncovered while he was involved in summer camps for Christian youth in the UK, where he inflicted severe physical punishment on boys. After relocating to Zimbabwe in 1984, he established Christian holiday camps and continued abusing boys, including forcing them to engage in inappropriate and humiliating activities. Notably, the independent Makin review mentioned that a 16-year-old boy named Guide Nyachuru tragically drowned under suspicious circumstances in 1992, an incident that Smyth dismissed as an unfortunate event. Despite facing legal troubles in Zimbabwe, including charges of culpable homicide and assault, Smyth’s trial faced a collapse due to a conflict of interest in the prosecution. Following his exit from Zimbabwe in 2001, Smyth relocated to Durban, and later to Cape Town, South Africa, where he continued to engage in conservative evangelical campaigns. The review indicates that there is substantial reason to believe Smyth perpetrated further abuses in South Africa, despite the lack of direct evidence. In February 2017, following allegations broadcasted by Channel 4, Smyth was removed from his pastoral position at his church in Cape Town after concerns surfaced regarding his inappropriate discussions with young men. The church clarified, however, that it only became fully aware of Smyth’s extensive legacy of abuse in early 2017. Letters, such as one from Bishop Stephen Conway, revealed a failure to transfer information about Smyth’s abusive history from the UK to other countries where he resided. After a comprehensive review of Smyth’s actions in Southern Africa, it became evident that the Church of England must take proactive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future and support investigations into past abuses across regions previously affected by Smyth’s actions.
The article addresses the troubling history of John Smyth, an evangelical barrister, who has been implicated in abusing a large number of boys and young men across multiple countries. Despite having been discovered and confronted with substantial allegations in Britain and Zimbabwe, Smyth managed to evade justice, ultimately passing away in South Africa. An independent review highlights the failures of the Anglican Church to act decisively and appropriately to prevent his abuses from continuing, demonstrating a significant lapse in safeguarding and reporting measures. Furthermore, the review indicates a grave concern regarding the lack of transparency and concrete evidence about Smyth’s conduct while residing in South Africa.
The case of John Smyth underscores the urgent need for reform within the Church of England, particularly in its safeguarding practices. The independent review shows that significant oversights allowed Smyth to continue his abusive behaviors unchecked in different countries. It signals a call to action for church authorities to ensure that all allegations of abuse are reported and addressed to protect potential victims in the future. The investigations into Smyth’s actions in Zimbabwe and South Africa must continue to provide accountability and prevent his legacy of abuse from persisting.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
