Campaigners from Bradford are to march on the Archbishop of Westminster's residence in protest at the Roman Catholic church's handling of abuse victims.

Saltaire writer Susan Ni Rahilly is urging others to join her in the walk to Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor's office in London following allegations he allowed a high risk paedophile to carry on working as a priest despite warnings he would re-offend.

Miss Ni Rahilly, a victim of abuse herself who has written a book on her Catholic upbringing, aims to deliver a list of names of other sufferers and will ask for a memorial to be dedicated to them.

Miss Ni Rahilly said: "As victims we know what effect abuse can have on people's lives.

"It's obvious the church is not up to date with certain thinking. It's not just sexual abuse, but spiritual, mental and physical as well."

Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor is alleged to have failed to call police despite revelations priest Michael Hill had sexually abused children.

In 1985 Hill was appointed chaplain at Gatwick Airport, Sussex, by Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor, then a bishop, despite warnings from doctors treating Hill for alleged paedophilia he was a danger to children.

Hill was jailed in 1997 for indecent assaults on children.

Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor has denied he acted irresponsibly but has admitted making mistakes and said the understanding of paedophilia 20 years ago was different to today.

"If a similar situation were to arise today, I would act differently," he has been reported as saying.

Members of regional groups called the Survivors of Spiritual Abuse will join the march on August 28.

A Catholic church spokesman today said Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor would not in his office until September but any letter or petition delivered would be handed to him on his return.

Anyone who would like to be involved in the campaign can call (01274) 229427.

e-mail: suzy.poole@

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