Vicar gaoled for child abuse

The case reminds the writer of the Court of Appeal decision in Maga where the Catholic Church was held liable for the abuse committed by a Catholic priest against a boy who used to clean the priest’s car. The defence was that since the boy was not a Catholic, the church should not be held responsible for his abuse. The Court of Appeal disagreed, quoting at one point from the Bible and Jesus’ exhortations to his disciples “Suffer little children to come unto me”. The point was that a Catholic priest was in the business of looking after all kinds of children, not just Catholics. This was part of his Christian duty.