The Vatican has strongly
reject
ed accusations that it sabotaged attempts by Irish bishops to report Roman Catholic paedophile priests to the police. The Vatican's 24-page
rebuttal
came after the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny
denounce
d the Church in July for its handling of such cases. Mr Kenny's comments followed an investigation into accusations relating to the Irish diocese of Cloyne. From Rome, David Willey reports.
The Vatican repeated the Pope's previous apology
on behalf of
Irish bishops for what it said had been their very serious and disturbing failings in dealing with the child sex abuse scandal in the diocese of Cloyne. It said the Church was "sorry and ashamed" for the terrible sufferings which the victims of abuse and their families had had. The statement handed to the Irish charge d'affaires in Rome said the Vatican also understood the depth of public anger and frustration, which had found expression in the prime minister's speech to parliament last July. But at the same time, the Holy See vigorously rejected accusations made in the Irish parliament that it had
undermine
d local Irish child protection laws.
World News from the BBC
An estimated 400,000 people are demonstrating across Israel in protest at the high cost of living. The largest rally is taking place in the city of Tel Aviv. The protests have
swell
ed over the past few weeks with demonstrators demanding cheaper housing, tax cuts and more free education. Jon Donnison is at the Tel Aviv rally.