"Ashamed" and "Sorry", he apologized to the discriminated minorities. Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Anglicans, said at a general synod of the Church of England that it was "Deeply and institutionally racist":
"We have damaged the Church, we have damaged the image of God and, most importantly, we have harmed those we have victimized, often unconsciously. "
United for a general synod, the Church of England voted on Tuesday, February 11, "Unanimously" a motion to "To ask forgiveness for the conscious and unconscious racism suffered by countless black Anglicans, Asians and other ethnic minorities in 1948 and in the years that followed, while searching for a spiritual home" within it, details a press release.
In June 1948, the ocean liner Empire Windrush had driven nearly 500 Commonwealth citizens, mainly from the Caribbean, to the island of Britain, marking the beginning of the generation "Windrush". Nearly 500,000 people from the West Indies traveled to mainland France, to help as British citizens to rebuild the United Kingdom after the Second World War.
"A horrible and humiliating racism"
During the Synod, Reverend Andrew Moughtin-Mumby testified how the family of one of her parishioners, who was denied access to a church in south London in 1961 "Because of the black color of their skin", "Suffered from a horrible and humiliating racism, which still affects his relationship today" with the institution. Denouncing a "Scandal", the Reverend called for "A real change", pointing out that it "Is not just the past of the Church".
The Council of Archbishops has officially requested that research be carried out to "Assess the impact of this situation on the Church of England, in terms of lost faithful, churches in the process of closure and missed vocations".
A person outside the Church will also be appointed to "Assess the current situation of race and ethnicity in the Church", the goal being to"Increase the participation and representation of black Anglicans, Asians and other ethnic minorities", whether lay people or members of his clergy.
