The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has reportedly asked the Vatican if Jimmy Savile can be stripped of his papal knighthood posthumously.
The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols has made the request to Vatican officials after hundreds of people came forward to say they had been abused by the late TV star.
Savile was made a Knight Commander of St Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II. He received the honour in 1990 in recognition of his charity work.
According to the BBC, the Archbishop has asked officials in Rome to investigate the possibility of removing the honour from Savile.
The request recognises the "deep distress" caused to his victims and the "disquiet" over Savile's name remaining on the Papal Honours list, a spokesperson told the broadcaster.
Allegations of abuse continue to be made after ITV broadcast an investigation into claims against Savile by several women.
Investigating police say they are following 400 lines of inquiry and that there may be as many as 300 victims.
-
Why Easter Monday matters
-
King Charles releases Easter message but faces criticism over reference to other faiths
-
Why is atheist Keir Starmer's Easter message more Christian than the King's?
-
Cardiff Council refuses to remove logo from church advertisements
-
The power of Good Friday: reflecting on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice
-
Supreme Court ruling on definition of woman hailed a victory
Most Popular
News
Israel restricts Palestinian Christians from Easter worship in Jerusalem
Palestinian Christians wishing to worship at the traditional sites of the Easter story were inhibited from doing so.
Jerusalem church leaders call for peace
The long search for peace in the Middle East continues.
'A pope for the poor': UK leaders pay tribute to Pope Francis
The UK's leaders have been paying their tributes to Pope Francis after his death on Easter Monday aged 88.
Church of England's interim leader pays tribute to Pope Francis after death at 88
The interim head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has paid tribute to Pope Francis as a "holy man of God" after his death on Easter Monday at the age of 88.