Church abuse is ‘minor part’ of problem

The Sunday Times
November 30, 2014

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1490179.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2014_11_29

The head of the Catholic Church in England said compassion, not guilt, was behind a support centre, writes George Arbuthnott

George Arbuthnott Published: 30 November 2014

THE abuse of children by Catholic priests represents a “minor part” of child abuse, according to the leader of the church in England and Wales.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols was speaking before a conference on sex trafficking, which he is hosting in London this week as part of a worldwide initiative, ordered by Pope Francis, to tackle modern slavery.

Asked if a Catholic church funded victim support centre due to be set up in London was motivated by a desire to atone for the church’s history of abuse of children by priests and subsequent cover-ups, Nichols said it was driven by compassion, not guilt.