Vatican defends Pope's actions in 1985 abuse case

A Vatican lawyer has denied the Pope tried to impede the defrocking of a California priest who sexually abused children.

It follows the emergence of a letter from 1985 in which the then Cardinal Ratzinger said more time was needed to decide whether the priest, Reverend Stephen Kiesle, should be removed.

The lawyer has accused the media of a "rush to judgement".