LONDON - A senior bishop on Tuesday defended the head of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales against charges he allowed a priest to continue working despite accusations of sexual abuse.
Critics say Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, knew of allegations against Rev. Michael Hill, who is awaiting sentencing for sex offenses against children.
Hill, 68, is a former chaplain at Gatwick Airport south of London. He was jailed for five years in 1997 for sex offenses against boys, but was released on parole in 2000.
On Monday, Hill pleaded guilty to six more charges of indecent assault against boys aged 10 to 14 between 1969 and 1987. He was due to be sentenced on Thursday.
In the 1980s, Murphy-O'Connor was bishop of Arundel and Brighton, and appointed Hill to the Gatwick job despite knowing of allegations against him.
"The cardinal has very clearly, publicly, two-and-a-half years ago, he made it very clear that he apologized, that he was full of regret for what had happened," Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
"I don't think he should resign at all. I think he has shown tremendous leadership in this, not only to the church in England and Wales, but to the church universally," Smith added.
The BBC reported that police were investigating Murphy-O'Connor's role in the Hill case. A spokesman for Sussex Police said the force would be looking at any issues that may now become known in the wake of the Hill case.
Between 1995 and 1999, 21 Catholic priests in England and Wales were convicted of abusing children.
The church launched an inquiry, headed by former appeals judge Lord Nolan. He recommended last year that all church officials, including volunteers, should be subject to police checks and any allegations of abuse investigated swiftly.
Smith said the church had come a long way over the last decade in combatting pedophilia within its ranks.
"Ten, 15 years ago neither social services nor the police, psychiatrists, psychologists had no real understanding of the nature of pedophilia," he said.
"Pedophilia was seen as a moral fault, as something which didn't have terrible effects. What has come out now with research and dealing with victims is that this is very appalling and wicked," he added.
"It is our knowledge and understanding of it which has changed."