The scandal-hit Catholic Church needs to undergo
renewal and reform, the former leader of Roman Catholics in England and
Wales said as he called for the "pope's own house to be put in order" in
the wake of recent troubles.Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, retired Archbishop of Westminster, said the successor to Benedict XVI would need to be able to tackle reform of the Roman Curia, the Vatican departments which govern the 1.2 billion-strong global church.
"There is no doubt that today there needs to be renewal in the Church, reform in the Church and especially of government, how is this next pope going to govern the Church?" he told a news conference.
"Quite a lot of bishops and cardinals think that it has got to be done perhaps in a more collegial way, in other words, those who rule the Church. It is not just the pope who rules the Church, it is the pope with the bishops.
"The pope is essential as a centre of unity and truth but he also cannot rule the Church without real association with the bishops. As you know, there have been troubles in recent years, and scandals. Well, this has got to be addressed and especially the pope's own house has to be put in order."
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor was speaking after the Catholic Church in Britain was plunged into crisis following the resignation of Cardinal Keith O'Brien as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, amid allegations of "inappropriate" behaviour towards fellow priests.
Cardinal O'Brien has denied the allegations and is taking legal advice.
Asked what his initial reaction had been to Cardinal O'Brien's resignation, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said: "Obviously, I was very sad. I do not know anything about the details, I am sure that they will be addressed but certainly I was saddened. I know Cardinal O'Brien well, so I think it has been very sad.
"I think that what has happened will for him and for the Church in Scotland have been very damaging. But I think Cardinal O'Brien who is a very honest man... whoever goes in will look at the allegations that have been made and he himself has contested them. So I think we have to leave it like that."
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said part of the role of the
apostolic administrator appointed to the diocese of St Andrews and
Edinburgh while the post remains vacant would be to examine the
allegations made against Cardinal O'Brien.
Cardinal O'Brien said he will not travel to Rome to take
part in the conclave to elect a new pope in order to avoid becoming a
focus of media attention.
His decision has left Britain's Roman
Catholics with no vote in the conclave as Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, at
80 years old, is ineligible to cast a vote.