Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The leader of Britain's four million Roman Catholics today denied he had ignored the problem of paedophile priests.
But Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, apologised for the suffering caused at the hands of Father Michael Hill, who has been convicted of a string of sex offences.
The Cardinal accepted his decision to appoint Hill to the chaplaincy at Gatwick Airport - before he was convicted of any offence, but after receiving conflicting psychiatric reports - was a mistake.
Hill, aged 68, was today jailed for a total of five years at the Old Bailey for sex assaults on boys.
Judge Christopher Moss said he could not imagine a more serious breach of trustwhich had resulted in "disgraceful and disgusting" crimes.
The disgraced priest had already been jailed once on sex charges in 1997.
The Cardinal denied ignoring the problem of paedophile priests in his former Diocese of Arundel and Brighton and rejected claims that compensation paid to victims was "hush money".
In a letter to The Times, the Cardinal writes: "Inevitably mistakes have been made in the past; but not for want of trying to take the right and best course of action."
He added: "Hush money is a deliberate misnomer. Victims of abuse, whether or not their case is pursued by the police through to prosecution, and whether or not they have been abused within the Church or society as a whole, are and have always been free to seek compensation."
The Cardinal said very strict guidelines adopted by the Church meant even in cases where allegations were made but no prosecution resulted, steps would be taken to remove a priest from active ministry.
He also said a review of child protection was carried out in 2000 by Lord Nolan.
The Cardinal added: "You also suggest that some may feel a sense of betrayal arising from mistakes the Church has made has made in the past, including in relation to paedophilia.
"I suggest in turn that many others feel deeply concerned by the apparently relentless attacks by parts of the media on their faith, and on the Church in which they continue to believe."
A statement released by the Catholic Communications Service restated its commitment to stamping out perverted priests.
It read: "The Church condemns totally the crime of paedophilia.
"Michael Hill's immediate future is a matter for the courts, the criminal justice system and for the probation service. Hill has not worked as a priest for many years and will never do so again. The process whereby he loses his status as a priest will be completed shortly.
"It is the Church's fervent hope that all who have been so deeply damaged by Michael Hill will now feel able to move forward with their lives.
"The Church is absolutely committed to doing everything humanly possible to prevent any child in its care from being damaged in the way that Hill's victims have been damaged.
"The Cardinal has made clear his deep personal regret that Michael Hill was allowed to continue in ministry, and for the consequences that followed this error of judgment," the statement said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments