Paedophile priest Michael Hill, jailed for sexually abusing boys, has not yet been stripped of his post, it was revealed today.

The Sussex priest was first jailed in 1997 for abusing nine boys but papers to unfrock him were not sent to the Vatican until last January.

Former Gatwick chaplain Hill was jailed for a second string of sex offences in November but the Roman Catholic authorities here are still waiting for the Vatican to make its final decision on his future.

The Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, Monsignor Kieran Conry, accepted the length of the process could send out bad signals but said he was pushing to bring about a final resolution in Hill's case.

He said the exercise was largely academic, adding: "He has no longer been functioning as a priest since 1997 but laicisation is making that officially and technically the case.

"The process does take a long time. It's like trying to get a marriage annulled. We had to provide psychological assessments to make the case stick, as it were.

"We had to prepare a fairly lengthy case because it's a significant process."

He said the situation had changed since 1997 and the process was now more customary.

Hill, 68, was branded a "predatory paedophile" and sentenced to five years in prison at the Old Bailey in November.

He admitted touching and fondling three boys as young as ten between 1969 and 1989.

He had previously been jailed by Guildford Crown Court after admitting ten counts of indecent assault against seven boys during the same period.

The Bishop added: "We are now waiting for ratification. I'll be ringing to see what is happening because it does need to be finalised."

Hill's case led to criticism of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor who was Bishop of his diocese for 23 years until his promotion to Archbishop of Westminster in 2000.

The Cardinal has apologised for appointing Hill as chaplain to Gatwick despite warnings from parents about his past.

Monsignor Conry was surprised at reports Hill is unhappy about moves to defrock him.

He said: "I haven't spoken to him since he's gone into prison again but he realised he would not work as a priest again."

The Bishop said the Church had an obligation to continue to give Hill accommodation and pay his living costs.

"The Church will always have an obligation to his spiritual and physical welfare," he said.