Abuse survivors call for apology from archbishop

Children’s home abuse survivors are calling for a leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland to say sorry at a public inquiry next week.

Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti will appear before the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in Edinburgh tomorrow.

The inquiry, headed by Lady Smith, is investigating allegations of abuse at Nazareth House homes across Scotland.

Archbishop Conti’s appearance comes after inquiry witnesses accused him of dismissing their claims against the Sisters of Nazareth as “fantasy”.

The inquiry has heard evidence from former residents at the Nazareth House home.

In 1998, Archbishop Conti who is the most senior churchman to appear at the inquiry so far - dismissed allegations against nuns as “improbable” and said some alleged victims were making “fantastical claims.

One former resident Joseph Currie, 64, claimed he told Archbishop Conti, then a priest, about being abused in Aberdeen at the age of 13 in 1967 and was told to “pray for his abuser.”

Another former resident Jim Buckley, 72, who also claims he was abused, said it was time for Archbishop Conti to say sorry: “He should apologise,” he said.

The Catholic Church declined to comment.