The Archbishop of Canterbury has said the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland has lost “all credibility” over the way it had dealt with paedophile priests.

Rowan Williams said the problems, which had been a “colossal trauma” for the Church, also affected the wider public.

BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said Dr Williams’ words represented unusually damning criticism from the leader of another Church.

Continues: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8601381.stm

An extraordinary war of words between the Catholic and Protestant churches culminated yesterday in the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, apologising for remarks that are not due to be broadcast until tomorrow.

Catholics in Ireland reacted furiously to comments made by Dr Williams in a pre-recorded interview – but released by the BBC – in which he said that the Catholic Church in Ireland had lost “all credibility” over the way it dealt with paedophile priests.

Within hours, however – but not before the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said he was “stunned” by the remarks – Dr Williams issued an apology, saying he had “no intention of criticising or attacking” the Catholic Church.

Continues: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/williams-forced-to-recant-criticism-of-irish-catholics-1935488.html