The Church of England's parliamentary body has apologised to victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Anglican clergy, noting its failure to prevent it and respond effectively. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, said addressing the issue had been "absolutely agonising". Speaking in a meeting of the General Synod in York on Sunday, the Archbishop admitted some victims had been "badly treated" by the Church. He said there needed to be a "complete change of culture and behaviour" in the Church of England. "We cannot in 20 years be finding ourselves having this same debate and saying 'Well we didn't quite understand then'," he said. "There has to be a complete change of culture and behaviour and in addition there is a profound theological point. We are not doing all this, we are not seeking to say how devastatingly, appallingly, atrociously sorry we are for the great failures there have been for our own sakes, for our own flourishing, for the protection of the Church.

Pray: for all those affected by this issue and that both they and the church will be able to move on. (2Pe.3:9)

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