BRITAIN
The Times
By Sam Knight, Times Online
A convicted paedophile is suing the Roman Catholic Church of England and Wales, claiming that he suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a priest more than thirty years ago.
The paedophile, who has not been named, claims that his life was ruined and his own crimes were shaped by the abuse that was inflicted on him by a Catholic priest, who he says is now a senior figure in the Catholic Church with responsibilities for child protection.
The case will be the first brought against the Catholic Church by a convicted sex offender.
The Catholic Church has denied the allegations in strong terms. A statement from the Diocese where the priest currently works and issued by the Church's solicitors said: "These allegations are untrue and are totally denied."
The paedophile decided to bring his case in the civil courts, where the burden of proof is lower, after a four-month police inquiry collapsed last year because the alleged offences were committed so long ago. The paedophile said he initially sought an apology from the Catholic Church, but was never given one.