Bishop sparks controversy over attitude to paedophilia

A long-serving bishop has sparked a storm of controversy over his fitness for the job after revealing he once thought paedophilia was “friendship gone too far”.

The head of the Catholic Church’s child abuse watchdog, Ian Elliott, called into question the competence of Bishop John Kirby over remarks made following his audit of the Diocese of Clonfert.

“Care needs to be taken when appointing a bishop that you do not appoint a bishop with these attitudes,” said Mr Elliott.