Sexual abuse scandal in Arundel and Brighton diocese
Encyclopedia
The sexual abuse scandal in Arundel and Brighton diocese is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in various Western countries.
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, Murphy-O'Connor allowed the crime to be covered up and transferred Hill to Gatwick Airport chapel, where the Cardinal believed he would not be able to molest children. In 1997, Hill was finally convicted as a child molester and jailed for sexually assaulting
nine children. After three years in jail, Hill was given another five years for assaulting three other boys.
, the new ordinary of Arundel and Brighton, told The Times
that the case of Father Christopher Maxwell-Stewart had not been managed in ways deemed suitable by today’s standards.
, the archbishop admitted he would have handled cases differently if existing guidelines were available during the 1980s. He said he might not have allowed Father Tim Garrett, convicted of taking indecent photographs of boys during this time, to move from Portsmouth diocese to Arundel and Brighton.
, the case became known to the general public.
Role of bishop Murphy-O'Connor
Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor found himself subject to public scrutiny regarding a priest in his diocese when he was Bishop of Arundel and Brighton. During this time it was brought to his attention that a priest, Michael Hill, was a child sexual abuseChild sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
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Michael Hill affair
Instead of reporting Hill to the policePolice
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, Murphy-O'Connor allowed the crime to be covered up and transferred Hill to Gatwick Airport chapel, where the Cardinal believed he would not be able to molest children. In 1997, Hill was finally convicted as a child molester and jailed for sexually assaulting
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
nine children. After three years in jail, Hill was given another five years for assaulting three other boys.
Christopher Maxwell-Stewart affair
Bishop Kieran ConryKieran Conry
Kieran Thomas Conry is the Roman Catholic Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.-Early life and ordination:...
, the new ordinary of Arundel and Brighton, told The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
that the case of Father Christopher Maxwell-Stewart had not been managed in ways deemed suitable by today’s standards.
Tim Garrett affair
In an interview with The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, the archbishop admitted he would have handled cases differently if existing guidelines were available during the 1980s. He said he might not have allowed Father Tim Garrett, convicted of taking indecent photographs of boys during this time, to move from Portsmouth diocese to Arundel and Brighton.
Cases revealed to the general public
In 2000, when O'Connor ascended to the status of Archbishop of WestminsterArchbishop of Westminster
The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the Metropolitan of the Province of Westminster and, as a matter of custom, is elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and therefore de facto spokesman...
, the case became known to the general public.