Scandal-hit Vatican ‘must Be Reformed’

By Dean Herbert
The Express
February 27, 2013

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/380516/Scandal-hit-Vatican-must-be-reformed

Cardinal O’Brien was once pictured with the disgraced late television presenter Jimmy Savile

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, retired Archbishop of Westminster, said the successor to Benedict XVI would need to be able to tackle reform of the Roman Curia, the Vatican departments that govern the 1.2 billion-strong global church.

His remarks came as the Church was shocked by the resignation of Cardinal O’Brien amid allegations that he behaved inappropriately towards young priests in the early 1980s.

Cardinal O’Brien, who was once pictured with the disgraced late television presenter Jimmy Savile, has denied the allegations and is taking legal advice.

Yesterday, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland strongly denied suggestions that the Pope had effectively “sacked” the Cardinal, saying his resignation was not linked to the allegations.

The Church said the Cardinal had been due to retire on March 17 when he turned 75, but had requested some time ago for the date to be brought forward due to ill health.

A spokesman added: “These claims are both anonymous and unspecific. They were not presented to the Catholic Church in Scotland, but to the Papal Nuncio in London.”

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor said that the crisis could result in an upheaval in the way the Catholic Church is run.

He said: “There is no doubt that today there needs to be renewal in the Church, reform in the Church and especially of government, how is this next Pope going to govern the Church?

“Quite a lot of Bishops and Cardinals think that it has got to be done perhaps in a more collegial way, in other words, those who rule the Church. It is not just the Pope who rules the Church, it is the Pope with the Bishops.

There is no doubt that today there needs to be renewal in the Church, reform in the Church and especially of government

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor

“As you know, there have been troubles in recent years, and scandals. Well, this has got to be addressed and especially the Pope’s own house has to be put in order.”

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor’s call for reform comes after Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, a papal contender, last week denounced the “divisions, dissent, careerism, jealousies” that afflict the Vatican, divisions exposed by the leaks of documents taken from the Pope’s study.

The allegations against Cardinal O’Brien were made by three priests and a former priest, who reported him early last month to the Vatican’s representative in London over allegations dating back 30 years.

One alleged “unwanted behaviour” after a late-night drinking session. Another said he was 18 when he was “inappropriately approached”.