Scandal-hit Vatican ‘must be reformed’

UNITED KINGDOM
Express

By: Dean Herbert
Published: Wed, February 27, 2013

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, retired Archbishop of Westminster, said the successor to Benedict XVI would need to be able to tackle reform of the Roman Curia, the Vatican departments that govern the 1.2 billion-strong global church.

His remarks came as the Church was shocked by the resignation of Cardinal O’Brien amid allegations that he behaved inappropriately towards young priests in the early 1980s.

Cardinal O’Brien, who was once pictured with the disgraced late television presenter Jimmy Savile, has denied the allegations and is taking legal advice.

Yesterday, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland strongly denied suggestions that the Pope had effectively “sacked” the Cardinal, saying his resignation was not linked to the allegations.

The Church said the Cardinal had been due to retire on March 17 when he turned 75, but had requested some time ago for the date to be brought forward due to ill health.

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