Magdalene refusal - This is about much more than money

The Catholic Church is as imaginative and determined as any fallen Celtic Tiger high roller when it comes to trying to protect assets.

It has shown it is prepared to put resources beyond the reach of those entitled, morally and legally, to compensation from the Church.

Earlier this month the New York Times reported how Cardinal Timothy F Dolan, then based in Milwaukee, requested and got Vatican permission in 2007 to move nearly $57m (€43.5m) into a cemetery trust fund to protect the cash from victims of clerical sexual abuse.