France’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, the cardinal Philippe Barbarin, has been given a six-month suspended sentence for his role in covering up the sexual abuse of minors.
Barbarin was found guilty of failing to report allegations of assaults by a priest in the 1980s and 1990s.
He denied the charges. His lawyers now say he will appeal against the verdict.
Barbarin’s sentencing comes as the Catholic Church reckons with a new wave of abuse scandals. Read more
