English bishop denies media bias, says Church deserves criticism over abuse scandals

English bishop denies media bias, says Church deserves criticism over abuse scandals
March 16, 2010

Denying that the Church is a victim of media bias, Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton has told The London Times that criticism of the Church’s handling of the clerical abuse scandal is well deserved.

“The Roman Catholic Church sets itself up to be the great moral authority,” he said. “When it does fail its own rigid standards, it deserves to be attacked and criticized.”

“I think what we will find is the number of cases will grow,” he added. “We can’t pretend it is something we can ignore or dismiss. The Church is one of the great moral champions in terms of its own rigid moral codes. When it fails it deserves to get hit.”