BishopAccountability.org
	A Cause for Concern Northern Echo January 10, 2009 http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/4037719.A_cause_for_concern/ WE welcome the appointment of a new Roman Catholic Bishop for Hexham and Newcastle. Canon Seamus Cunningham takes up his new job at a time when the pastoral work of the church has never been more important. While some folk yearn for the days when bishops kept their thoughts on social and political issues to themselves, the Church has a crucial role to play in these important topics. But before the new bishop can get to grips with the social issues of a recession, there is another urgent problem much closer to home that needs solving. This newspaper has highlighted the issue of Father Michael Higginbottom a number of times already. The well-loved parish priest was suspended from St Augustine’s Church, in Darlington, in 2004. The Catholic Church said it was conducting an investigation into allegations made against him. Four years later, Fr Higginbottom remains suspended. No allegations of a sexual or violent nature have been laid against him and he has never been interviewed. His whereabouts are uncertain. As we have said several times before, this is an outrageous situation which would not be tolerated in any other line of work. In fact, it would be classed as abuse of human rights. Why should the church authorities be any different? How much longer must this man be asked to put his life on hold without being told if he is to be condemned or declared innocent? We trust the new bishop will act quickly and finally bring the whole sorry saga to a long overdue conclusion.
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