Church Of England Apologizes For Being ‘Deeply Institutionally Racist’
Justin Welby says he is ‘sorry and ashamed’ over church’s racism.
Archbishop of Canterbury tells synod hostile environment should be welcoming instead.
The archbishop of Canterbury has spoken of his personal shame at the Church of England’s institutional racism and has promised to replace a hostile environment with a hospitable welcome.
At a meeting in London of the church’s ruling body, the General Synod, Justin Welby said: “When we look at our own church, we are still deeply institutionally racist. Let’s be clear about that.”
He said he was “personally sorry and ashamed. I’m ashamed of our history and I’m ashamed of our failure … I’m ashamed of my lack of urgent voice to the church.”
Speaking in a debate on the Windrush scandal and racism in the church, Welby said: “I’ve often wondered how the German church in the 1930s managed to ignore what happened to the Jews. I think they just didn’t really notice … and perhaps that’s what we’ve done in the way we’ve behaved since Windrush.”
Welby listed his advantages in life: “I have white advantage, educational advantage, straight advantage, male advantage … I’m not ashamed of those advantages, I’m ashamed of not knowing I had them.”
He said the phrase “hostile environment” was extraordinary and terrible. “But we have to transform it into a hospitable, welcoming one,” he added.
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