Cardinal faces renewed controversy in abuse claims

THE Archbishop of Westminster yesterday faced renewed controversy over his handling of child sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church, following a claim that he misled the public over the way he dealt with allegations against a priest.

The BBC based the new claim against Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, on documents relating to a meeting between the cardinal and his officials in which they discussed allegations that a priest sexually abused a young girl over four years.

Radio 4’s Today programme said the cardinal had acknowledged he did not send the case for independent assessment, and that it should have been so referred.