McConnell wants abuse apology by the Church

Scotland -- SCOTLAND’S first minister yesterday threw down a challenge to the Roman Catholic Church when he issued an apology on behalf of the people of Scotland to the victims of institutionalised child abuse.

It was promptly made clear by senior sources in the Scottish Executive that Jack McConnell’s words were indirectly aimed at forcing the Church to follow suit.

A clearly irritated church official pointed out that almost three years ago, Archbishop Keith O’Brien, now a Cardinal, had issued an unreserved apology “to those who, over the years, have suffered any form of abuse at the hands of those representing the Catholic Church”.

Read the article at Times Online dated December 02, 2004