Catholic leader will not resign over abuse report
THEHEADoftheCatholicChurch in England and Wales says he will not resign over a damning report into child sex abuse allegations.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster Diocese, said he recently offered his resignation to the Pope on account of his age only, but he was told to stay in post.
It came as the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse ( IICSA) report into the Catholic Church, published yesterday, found Cardinal Nichols “seemingly put the reputation of the church” above his duty to sex assault victims. It added that he had demonstrated “no acknowledgement of any personal responsibility to lead or influence change”.
The report findings were met with calls for Cardinal Nichols to resign – something he says he will refuse to do.
He said: “I was 75 very recently. A few weeks ago, as according to the law of the Church, I sent my resignation into Pope Francis and I have received a very unequivocal reply, and that is that he tells me to stay in office here. So that is what I will do, that is where my orders come from. I’m staying.”
The report found the Catholic Church repeatedly failed to support victims and survivors, while taking positive action to protect alleged perpetrators, including moving them to other parishes.
IthighlightedthecaseofFather James Robinson, a serial paedophile, who was moved to another parish within the Archdiocese of Birmingham after complaints were first made in the 1980s. He was later jailed for 21 years.
The report also identified how senior leaders were resistant to external oversight and have only partially implemented the recommendations of previous reviews. Focusing on Cardinal Nichols, it said: “In the cases of ( two
complainants), Cardinal Nichols demonstrated a lack of understanding of the impact of their abuse and experiences and seemingly put the reputation of the church first.”
The report also found Cardinal Nichols demonstrated “no acknowledgement of any personal responsibility to lead or influence change”.
Richard Scorer, specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon representing survivors at the inquiry, said: “This is an absolutely damning report. Cardinal Nichols needs to go right away – in any other walk of life he would be gone immediately.
“This is a church that cannot be trusted to protect children.”
The remaining avenues of the inquiry into abuse allegations across society are due to hear evidence later this year. A final overarching report from all 15 sections of the investigation will be laid before Parliament in 2022.