Archbishop Jeremy Greaves Calls for Cultural Change and Collective Responsibility Following Makin Review Findings

Archbishop Jeremy Greaves has expressed his deep shock and sadness over the extent of the abuse committed by the late John Smyth QC, as revealed in the independent Makin review. The report sheds light on the horrific sexual, physical, psychological, and spiritual abuse Smyth inflicted on young people across multiple continents for decades. 

Greaves condemned the failure of church leaders and other institutions to intervene and stop Smyth's actions, calling it a profound failure in safeguarding vulnerable individuals. He highlighted that these findings underscore the urgent need for cultural and procedural changes within the Church to prevent such abuse in the future.

While acknowledging the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby as a necessary and appropriate response, Greaves emphasised that safeguarding is a collective responsibility. "It's not the job of any one individual to protect children and vulnerable adults—it's the responsibility of all of us," he said.

Greaves reiterated that the focus must always remain on the victims. "The survivors must be the priority," he stated, stressing that the Church’s actions should always centre on those who have suffered harm.

In response to the review, Greaves reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening safeguarding practices within the Anglican Church Southern Queensland. He vowed to continue pushing for both operational and cultural changes to ensure the safety of all individuals, particularly the most vulnerable. The Archbishop also made it clear that any attempt to conceal abuse would be met with zero tolerance.

As the Archbishop of Brisbane, Greaves underlined that effective safeguarding remains paramount for the Church, and the lessons from the Makin review must drive ongoing efforts to protect children and vulnerable adults within the faith community.