February 28, 2005

Bishop sorry over sex abuse levy

NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News

A letter explaining the decision to scrap a controversial levy on church collections has been read out at masses in the Derry diocese on Sunday.

Bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty's letter apologised for not telling parishioners that a 3% levy was going towards a fund for victims of clerical sex abuse.

The revelations were made in BBC NI's Spotlight programme on Tuesday.

The letter told parishioners they had a right to know where their money went.

The bishop has accepted a recommendation from the priests of the diocese that the levy should be abolished.

Posted by kshaw at February 28, 2005 05:03 PM