Justin Welby

{{christianity}}

'''Justin Welby''' {{lived|1956}} is the former Archbishop of Canterbury, and was therefore senior [[bishop]] of the [[Church of England]] and head of the [[Episcopal Church|Anglican Communion]]. This is a relatively clean job by his standards as he worked for 11 years for the [[Oil|Oil Industry]] before he felt a call to become a [[priest]]. It's arguable whether his neighbours improved after that; he was ordained through Holy Trinity Brompton, the church that came up with the [[Alpha Course]]. He announced his resignation on November 12, 2024 after a report into the abuses of boys and young men by the Evangelical Christian {{wpl|John Smyth (barrister)|John Smyth}} criticized him.<ref name=ITVX>[https://www.itv.com/news/2024-11-12/archbishop-of-canterbury-resigns-over-handling-of-church-abuse-case Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigns over handling of church abuse case], ITVX, November 12, 2024</ref> Welby formally resigned as archbishop on January 7, 2025.

==History==

He was born in 1956<ref group=note>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190606211705/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/dna-test-reveals-archbishop-justin-welby-is-illegitimate-son-of-sir-winston-churchills-private-a6975936.html There's an interesting story behind that.]</ref> and went to Eton College, and {{wpl|Cambridge University}} to study [[history]] and [[law]].  After graduating he joined the [[Oil]] Industry, excavating Africa and the North Sea, and spending five of those years as first a derivatives trader then Treasurer for Enterprise Oil.<Ref> [http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390444752504578024833471492280?mod=WSJ_hp_EditorsPicks&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10000872396390444752504578024833471492280.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_hp_EditorsPicks British Banks Face Heat From on High] - Wall Street Journal, 30 September 2012</ref><ref name="Bio">[http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/pages/about-justin-welby.html Official Biography]</ref> He resigned from this post in 1989 to be ordained.

He was first rejected for ordination and told he had no future within the Church of England.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9668919/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-You-have-no-future-in-the-Church.html Archbishop of Canterbury: 'You have no future in the Church'], The Telegraph, 11 November 2012</ref> He studied [[Theology]] at Durham University to become a priest.

He considered his application for Archbishop of Canterbury to be a joke and was ordered to apply after being a bishop for only seven months.<ref name="Joke">[http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3673513.ece Welby: my application for Canterbury was a joke] - The Times, 31 January 2013</ref>

==Positions==

===Homophobia and condoning the abuse of boys===

Justin Welby opposes [[gay marriage]] and has voted and spoken against it in the [[House of Lords]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22764954 Gay marriage bill: Peers back government plans], BBC News, 5 June 2013</ref> He fully understands and accepts that the [[homophobia]] displayed in his actions is seen as "akin to [[racism]]" and also in his words "the vast majority of people under 35 not only think that what we’re saying is incomprehensible but also think that we’re plain wrong and wicked and equate it to racism and other forms of gross injustice."<ref name="Speaking Truth">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/archbishop-of-canterbury-my-gay-marriage-view-can-be-seen-as-akin-to-racism-8788461.html Archbishop of Canterbury: My gay marriage view can be seen as 'akin to racism'] - The Independent, 28 August 2013</ref> In an effort to shore up the opposition to gay marriage, he told people not to be afraid of "incoherence and inconsistency".<ref name="Incoherent">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10633145/Welby-tells-Church-refusing-gay-blessings-will-be-viewed-like-racism.html Justin Welby says 'Church viewed liked racists over homosexuality'] - The Telegraph, 12 February 2014</ref> But despite doing whatever he could to continue legal discrimination he has told [[Evangelical]] Christians to [[Sin|repent]] over their attitude to homosexuality.<ref name="repent">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10271438/Archbishop-urges-Christians-to-repent-over-wicked-attitude-to-homosexuality.html Archbishop urges Christians to ‘repent’ over ‘wicked’ attitude to homosexuality] - The Telegraph, 28 August 2013</ref>

His reasoning for opposing gay marriage appear to come close to being {{wpl|Kettle logic|kettle logic}}. His justifications have included:
* We should stick to [[traditional marriage]] and not redefine marriage and not challenge the [[Argument from authority|authority]] of [[scripture]].<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/28/gay-marriage-opposition-wicked-archbishop Young people think opposition to gay marriage is wicked, says archbishop] - The Guardian, 28 August 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/welcome-samesex-couples-or-be-damned-as-bigots-archbishop-of-canterbury-justin-welby-tells-church-of-england-9124915.html Welcome same-sex couples or be damned as bigots, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tells Church of England] The Independent, 13 February 2013</ref>
* Allowing gay couples to marry would weaken the fabric of society.<ref name="fabric">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10096579/Gay-marriage-weakens-society-says-Archbishop-of-Canterbury.html Gay marriage weakens society, says Archbishop of Canterbury] - The Telegraph, 03 June 2013</ref>
* African [[homophobes]] will kill Christians in [[Africa]] if the Church of England marries gay people.<ref name="BBC Africa">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26894133 Welby: backing gay marriage could be 'catastrophic' for Christians elsewhere] - BBC News, 04 April 2014</ref><ref name="Guardian Africa">[http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/04/african-christians-church-of-england-gay-marriage-justin-welby African Christians will be killed if C of E accepts gay marriage, says Justin Welby] - The Guardian. 4 April 2014</ref> He claims to have been at a grave with 369 bodies due to this - and claims [[Correlation does not imply causation|causation]].<ref name="Huff Africa">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/04/archbishop-of-canterbury-gay-marriage_n_5091301.html Archbishop Of Canterbury Justin Welby Suggests African Christians Will Be Killed If Church Accepts Gay Marriage] - The Huffington Post, 04 April 2014</ref>

In the case the abusive Evangelical Christian {{wpl|John Smyth (barrister)|John Smyth}}, who beat at least 130 boys and young men in his charge in England and Africa, Welby knew about Smyth's abhorrent behavior from at least 2013, but did nothing, and barely anything substantial after the allegations became public in 2017. A report released on November 7, 2024 found senior figures in the Church, including Welby, had not investigated Smyth or had covered up the abuse. Welby has denied knowing anything definitive years earlier about Smyth's actions; the two men were associates from the late 1970s onwards.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/07/church-of-england-covered-up-attacks-serial-abuser-john-smyth-review C of E covered up attacks by serial abuser John Smyth, review finds], The Guardian, November 7, 2024, Harriet Sherwood</ref> He announced his resignation on November 12, 2024.<ref name=ITVX />

===Payday Loans===

Shortly after he became Archbishop, Justin Welby decided to try to find a moral cause for the Church of England to tackle. So he chose the payday loan company Wonga.com, and claimed that the Church would put them out of business.<ref name="Wonga 1">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/war-on-wonga-were-putting-you-out-of-business-archbishop-of-canterbury-justin-welby-tells-payday-loans-company-8730839.html War on Wonga: We're putting you out of business, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tells payday loans company] - The Independent, 25 July 2013</ref> It didn't take long for investigative journalists to discover that the Church of England had invested in Wonga.com.<ref name="Wonga 2">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10206098/Justin-Welbys-Wonga-revelation.html Justin Welby's Wonga revelation] - The Telegraph, 28 July 2013</ref> And rather than continue with its attempt to challenge the payday loan company, the Church kept its stake so that it didn't have to sell at a loss.<ref name="Wonga 3">[http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/31/archbishop-justin-welby-admits-wonga-stake-still-in-place Archbishop Justin Welby admits Wonga stake has not been sold] - The Guardian, December 31, 2013</ref> Almost a year later the CofE Ethical Investment Advisory Panel decided that investing in payday loans was fine.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/28/wonga-church-of-england-keep-stake Wonga: Church of England advised by ethics review to keep its stake] - [[The Guardian]], 28 June 2014</ref>

The Church of England finally got rid of its stake in Wonga.com 50 weeks after Welby started the battle with them.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10960434/Church-of-England-finally-casts-out-Wonga.html Church of England finally casts out Wonga] - [[The Telegraph]] - 10 July 2014</ref>

===Poverty===

Justin Welby believes [[poverty]] is a bad thing. He considers that the Food Banks currently needed are "a very sad fact that they’re there, but also it’s [[Christian evangelism|a great opportunity for the Church to demonstrate the love of Christ]]".<ref name="Food bank">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/anglican-church-to-investigate-reasons-for-surge-in-food-banks-8884729.html Anglican Church to investigate reasons for surge in food banks] - The Independent, 16 October 2013</ref> He blames [[austerity]] for their being needed.<Ref name="austerity">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/justin-welby-food-banks-users-arent-scroungers-8698482.html Justin Welby: Food banks users ‘aren’t scroungers’] - The Independent, July 9 2013</ref> He also believes that "As a civilised society, we have a duty to support those among us who are vulnerable and in need. ... It is essential that we have a welfare system that responds to need and recognises the rising costs of food, fuel and housing."<ref name="Welfare">[http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/mar/10/benefits-children-poverty-archbishop-canterbury-welby Benefits changes will push children into poverty, says archbishop of Canterbury] - The Guardian, 11 March 2013</ref>

==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:Christian clergy]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Categories: Christian clergy, Homophobes, Living people