Church is haunted by scandal of sex abuse
Added on April 18, 2005
Monday April 18th 2005
THE Roman Catholic Church is bracing itself for the award of record damages to the victim of a paedophile priest that could pave the way for a multi-million pound series of compensation claims.
The case of a former parishioner who suffered 10 years of child sex abuse by a priest in Coventry, England, will increase the pressure on the next Pope to confront the legacy of such abuse by clergy in Europe and the United States.
The Vatican, which has suffered severe damage to its reputation and heavy financial loss because of abuse cases, will host the first session of the secret conclave to chose a new Pope today.
The case will have its greatest impact on the Church in England and Wales and is a serious setback to its attempts to overcome a wave of abuse scandals.
The victim's claim for abuse by Father Christopher Clonan, who assaulted many young victims during his 20 years as a priest in Coventry, will be the first time the level of damages is set by a High Court judge.
In Ireland, the country's four million Catholics are facing bills of ?26m over five years as a result of sex abuse by priests going back decades. (? The Times, London)
Frances Gibb
and Ruth Gledhill
? Irish Independent