Paedophile priest still working

The latest case emerged as a disabled victim of paedophile priest Michael Hill, from Crawley, broke a 15-year silence to tell of his ordeal.

It has led to renewed calls for the resignation of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales.

As Bishop of Arundel and Brighton in 1985, he appointed Hill as chaplain at Gatwick Airport despite being warned he was a threat to children.

The latest victim was 17 when the unnamed trainee priest, who was then in his 30s, "inappropriately interfered" with him at a seminary in 1986.

When confronted in an e-mail in April the priest admitted what he had done and asked for forgiveness.

He contacted Church authorities who brought in their own child protection team. The matter was referred to the police but the victim did not want to take the case further.

The priest has remained in his post and even continues as governor of a local school, it is alleged.

The Cardinal stressed in a letter to The Times newspaper last week that abuser priests could be sacked even if there was no police investigation.

Hill was jailed on Thursday for five years after admitting six offences of indecent assault against three boys.

Days after Hill was sentenced, one of his victims spoke out for the first time.

The man, now in his late 20s, was first abused by Hill when he was 13, soon after Hill began working at the airport.

The victim was struggling to cope with his physical disability as well as other emotional traumas in his life when Hill befriended him.

He said: "It was the classic example of a child molester going to the park to give kids sweets - except this was more cunning.

"He would come round and take me out for the day or weekend to church retreats around England. I was in a bad way and he talked to me like an adult and gave me respect. I was flattered."

He told how Hill abused him on a number of occasions, adding: "I told him to stop but again he told me not to worry.

"If it happened now I would be reaching for a heavy object but at the time I didn't realise I should speak out. He kept telling me it was okay and I supposed I believed him.

"It is often hard to ascribe everything in your life to one issue but for me that so clearly has been the case. It was the most deeply damaging thing that has ever happened to me.

"I really did not know what I was doing at 13 and would not have done any of the things I did if I had not met Michael Hill."

He added: "For me, the Archbishop is as responsible as Hill for what happened. He claimed that allowing Hill to work at Gatwick was a mistake but it was one hell of a mistake to make."

The Catholic Church today insisted the Nolan guidelines had been followed in the latest case.

It said in a statement: "Earlier this year an incident which occurred 16 years ago between a 17-year-old and a trainee priest was brought to the attention of the diocese.

"Both parties were interviewed within 48 hours by a diocese child protection team.

"The diocese then reported the matter to the police for investigation against the wishes of the complainant, who preferred not to pursue any complaint.

"He declined to co-operate with the police.

"The priest was withdrawn from his parish pending a full risk assessment as required under the Nolan guidelines.

"This risk assessment was comprehensive and carried out by independent experts with the full co-operation of the priest concerned.

"The recommendations of that assessment were implemented in full. As required by Nolan this case will be kept under regular review."

However, Michelle Elliot, director of the Kidscape charity, said she was "absolutely shocked" by the case and said the Cardinal should resign.

She said: "It was quite clear that the Nolan report required that priests who were abusing children should not continue in their ministry and the Cardinal has said fine, go ahead."

She added: "I think Cardinal Murphy O'Connor is going to have to go over this because he has not followed his own guidelines."