Catholic Church Wants Perv Jimmy Savile's Papal Knighthood Removed

By Lynn McPherson
Daily Record
October 28, 2012

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/catholic-church-wants-perv-jimmy-1403698

Cardinal Keith O'Brien said the honour should be taken away

Pop pervert Jimmy Savile

THE leader of Scotland's Catholics, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, was a long-standing friend of Savile but was not aware of his dark secrets and has now said that he should lose the papal honour.

THE leader of Scotland's Catholics yesterday called for paedophile Jimmy Savile to be stripped of his papal knighthood.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien had a long-standing friendship with Savile and, unaware of his dark secrets, paid tribute to the DJ and TV presenter after his death last year at the age of 84.

But his spokesman said yesterday that Savile should lose the papal honour, which was bestowed in 1990.

He said: "As far as we are concerned, we would absolutely endorse and support that move.

"It seems to be an appropriate response and echoes exactly what every other institution and organisation who had an association with Jimmy Savile is doing at the moment."

The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, who is the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has already written to the Vatican to ask that Savile's knighthood is withdrawn.

Following Savile's death, Cardinal O'Brien said: "My friendship with Jimmy Savile developed over many years since I was assistant priest in St Patrick's Parish, Kilsyth."

O'Brien was among many high-powered supporters of Savile, including Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher, who were oblivious to his real nature.

Meanwhile, Savile's family yesterday spoke for the first time since allegations of abuse were revealed.

His nephew Roger Foster said: "We recognise that even our own despair and sadness do not compare to that felt by the victims.

"Our thoughts and our prayers are with those who have suffered from every kind of abuse over so many years and we offer our deepest sympathy in what must have been a terrible time for all of them."

Celebrity PR man Max Clifford has revealed he has been contacted by up to 15 stars who fear they might be implicated.

He said: "I can't mention any names. It's really just a case that they've asked me to tell them if their names get mentioned before anybody else does.

"You are talking about guys who were stars in the 60s and 70s. Now because of all the stuff that's coming out about Jimmy Savile, they want to make sure they are not being mentioned because they were around Top of the Pops and did his TV shows.

"You can see how it would be easy for someone to suck them into it.

"They can't remember exactly what happened when and where last year, never mind about 40 years ago. It has rattled people but certainly the ones I've spoken to have no reason to be concerned at all. I suppose it's an inevitable consequence of what's come out."