ARCHBISHOP IN RALLYING CALL TO HIS PRIESTS.

Byline: TOM WELLS

DAYS before the BBC's Kenyon Confronts was aired the Archbishop of Birmingham, Most Reverend Vincent Nicholls, wrote to all his priests about the programme.

In his letter he told his ministers: 'I must tell you that in all probability the Kenyon Confronts programme will be broadcast. The BBC have not been that responsive.

'The programme claims to speak for victims claiming help and compensation from the Church. It deals with our Archdiocese, and about the case 'from the past', all of which are familiar to you.

'I have tried to handle this situation as firmly and fairly as I could. My disagreement with the BBC is not over yet!

'Please do not be discouraged. We have so much support among our people and many others. With every good wish, Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham.'

Response

In a separate development, one of the victims of the Catholic Church's paedophile abuse has written to the Sunday Mercury with his response to the programme.

The victim, known as 'Mark', wrote: 'Children in Birmingham in the 1970s were raped by Catholic priests and the heirarchy knew of it. And did nothing.

'No wonder the Catholic Church is so reluctant to 'open the files'. I wonder what one would find there.

'No-one watching Father Robinson's bare-faced denials of his abuse of 'Peter', his brazen threats to sue and his callous disregard for his victim's distress could be in any doubt at just how practised, skillful and resourceful career paedophiles are.

'As a survivor of Father Robinson's depredations I can confirm that at no stage since exposing him as a paedophile in 1985 has any member of the Catholic heirarchy contacted me to offer any support.

'Nor have they confirmed my allegations are now accepted as credible.'