By Adam Aspinall
Sunday Mercury
October 24, 2010
http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2010/10/24/church-could-face-new-police-probe-over-birmingham-paedophile-priest-66331-27532932/
 |
THE Catholic Church could face a new police investigation into claims it helped convicted paedophile priest James Robinson evade justice.
The sex monster was jailed for 21 years on Friday for sexually abusing six young boys between 1959 and 1983, while serving in the West Midlands.
But Robinson, 73, was not captured until last year as he was allowed to flee to the US in 1985 after the allegations first emerged.
While in America he continued as a priest in California – and received £800 per month from the Archdiocese of Birmingham until the end of 2001.
Last night, a victim of another paedophile Midland priest said he plans to meet West Midlands detectives this week to demand the church face a new investigation over its role in the scandal.
"Although I'm overjoyed that Robinson has finally been found guilty of his crimes, this is only the beginning," he said.
"The real question is how was he able to evade capture for so long – and why he was paid money by the Catholic Church until the end of 2001?
"The powers that be will inevitably try and sweep this under the carpet, but I'm determined to find out what really went on.
"The only way I can see that happening is by demanding a police investigation into the exact events which led to him fleeing to America in 1985 – and why he was supported by the church so long after that."
The sex abuse victim was brought up in the Father Hudson's Home for orphans in Coleshill. It was there that he was raped by paedophile priest Eric Taylor who was jailed in 1998.
Taylor, who attacked a string of boys, knew Robinson well as he had worked alongside him in the 1970s.
Robinson served at a number of parishes during his time in the West Midlands.
To the public and parishioners he seemed a devoted priest – but in private he was abusing young boys.
After completing his training Robinson was moved to the Holy Family Church in Small Heath, Birmingham.
Between 1974 and 1979 he was parish priest at the Holy Trinity Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire before moving to St Elizabeth's Church, Coventry.
Robinson finally switched to Our Lady of Lourdes in Cradley Heath in the Black Country – but in 1985 he was suddenly transferred to America. At the time Most Reverend Maurice Couve de Murville was the Archbishop of Birmingham.
In 1993 the English Roman Catholic Church is alleged to have told its US counterparts about the abuse claims – and Robinson was stopped from giving Holy Communion.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.