As time marches on, the phrase ‘a cardinal sin’ seems to have more and more relevance. Why did it originate?

Just when you had thought that paedophile priests may have shamed the Roman Catholic Church into action, or our articles about the abuses that have gone on may have been over stated, it has transpired that the Church of Rome - having failed to implement the 1994 regulations, having paid hush money to hundreds of people who have been abused, having had many high profile incidents about its priests, having told us that the police recommendation and reports are being looked into (and now rejected!), having professed concern and claimed immediate ‘clamp-down’ on sex-crimes – has now decided to promote perverters and paedophile priests to the position that of Cardinal. Clearly this new policy of the Church of Rome is to promote such perverts to such high ranking positions within the Church that no-one will be able to ‘find out’ and accuse and as a Cardinal these despicable matters will be easier again to cover up.

37 new Cardinals were created by the Pope last weekend. This can be seen as subtle move by the Pope to reinforce the conservative nature of the Church. Archbishop (Catholic) Cormac Murphy-O’Connor was one of the 37 appointed and he stated that these appointments should be seen as the close and cordial nature of the relationship between the Vatican and Britain.

Lets us remember that the Archbishop of Westminster, Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has been promoted to this position even though he appointed and renewed the licence of a priest who was a known paedophile to him and who after being ‘licensed’ and sent as Chaplain to Gatwick airport committed further sexual assaults on boys (see articles – Leader of Roman Catholic….and, Sins of The Fathers).

The subject has so caught the public’s attention that the ‘Mirror’ ran a report on the matter in its 25 January issue: ‘A child abuse victim lashed out yesterday at the Pope’s election of Archbishop Desmond Connell to Cardinal’. Andrew Madden 27 received £27,000 in compensation for his horrendous ordeal at the hands of Father Ivan Payne. The priest got a loan from Dr Connell’s Dublin Archdiocese to pay his victim. There has never been a public outcry about his behaviour and Dr Connell never considered resigning.

If a politician arranged a loan for a paedophile priest from taxpayers money for a similar reason he would be removed from his position. As Andrew stated, ‘Diocesan funds were loaned to pay me compensation. Now the Pope wants to promote Connell from Archbishop to Cardinal – nothing surprises me about the Catholic Church’.

It is reported that Father Payne 57 abused altar boys and sick children in their hospital beds – who he called his ‘little angels’ - in the Dublin diocese during an 18 year period. He is now serving a six year sentence in the Curragh prison in the Republic.

Dr Connell told a packed church in 1998 that Payne had admitted molesting Andrew when he was just 12. He also told them how the priest was given a loan to pay compensation. He also told his flock that the Church had sought professional advice after Payne’s confession but decided he wasn’t a threat to children.

In contrast to this Andrew stated that he had written to Dr Connell in 1993 to tell him that Father Payne had abused him 103 times. Shortly after, he received an out of court settlement. Typical of the Church of Rome that any attempt of an apology only comes when it has been exposed and eight years after having been informed. ‘Those elevated to Cardinal will be able to vote for a new Pope. The Church obviously thinks it’s an acceptable way to behave’ A spokesman for Dr Connell said that the archbishop understands the pain of hurt of people who have suffered from sexual abuse and promised that whatever could been done, to assist in their healing, would be.

How many more cases? ‘The Times’ was correct to report that many other cases would come to light within the next few months when it reported on the case at the Brompton Oratory. The Archbishop of Canterbury, could not see any inconsistency, it was stated in the ‘Church of England’ newspaper: ‘I am delighted that my friend and colleague Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has been nominated a cardinal. I congratulate him warmly on this honour, which recognises his contribution as a pastor and leader.’