Clampdown on clergy abusers planned

Plans come amid growing concerns about abuse by clergy

Clergy who abuse their position of trust to sexually exploit young people could face jail under proposals to be considered by the government.

The Home Office confirmed it would examine a plan to amend the Sexual Offences Bill to include the clergy, as well as teachers and care workers, under the new offence of abuse of trust.

The offence is intended to protect young people over 16, but are still in full-time education, hospital, and care, community or residential homes, from abuse by adults in positions of influence.

The move follows the admission of Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor that he made a mistake by allowing a paedophile priest, Father Michael Hill, to return to work as a chaplain.

Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor defends his decision

The archbishop is one of the most senior figures in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

The Independent on Sunday reports that Conservative peer Baroness Young intends to table the amendment to the Bill, bringing the clergy within the scope of the abuse of trust offence.

She previously led the campaign in the House of Lords to resist the liberalisation of laws on homosexuality.

A Home Office spokesman confirmed that the Young amendment would receive serious consideration.

"This is an area which the government is concerned to get it right," he said.

Hill was jailed in 1997

"The government would look at any amendment very carefully on their own merits."

The Sexual Offences Bill, which will reduce the age of gay consent to 16, was blocked in the Lords in 1998.

It has been reintroduced but, in a move to reassure MPs concerned about the protection of the young, Home Secretary Jack Straw has included the new offence of the abuse of a position of trust.

Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor was severely criticised last week for allowing Hill to continue working as a priest, despite warnings he would re-offend.

'Professionals' advice'

He told BBC News 24 he "regretted exceedingly what happened" - namely that after he allowed Hill back to work in 1985 after suspending him as a priest, Hill went on to indecently assault more altar boys and was jailed in1997.

The archbishop said he had been acting on advice from professionals at a time when the behaviour of child abusers was not as well understood as at present.

Hill was jailed in 1997 after pleading guilty to nine counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency, committed over a 20-year period.