BRITAIN: Campaigners last night dismissed comments made by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, that he had been "naive" on the issue of sex abuse in the Church and called on him to resign.
Last night the Cardinal said the Church had failed to show "sufficient compassion" in the past for children abused by priests.
He has faced widespread criticism over his handling of paedophile priests, centring on his decision in 1985 - when he was Bishop of Arundel and Brighton - to move Father Michael Hill to the chaplaincy at Gatwick airport even though he knew he was a child abuser. A fortnight ago, Hill was jailed for five years.
Ms Margaret Kennedy, founder of the Ministry and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors group, said: "He has not shown a great deal of compassion for victims.
"In a pastoral letter read out in all the parishes two weeks ago he said the media was attacking the Catholic Church and saying the Church must stand firm." - (PA)