ROME – Chilean Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz and Italian Cardinal Domenico Calcagno should be excluded from the conclave for covering up for paedophile priests, abuse victims say.

 Following the resignation last week of Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Errazuriz, the Archbishop Emeritus of Santiago, has been denounced for allegedly covering up the activities of Fernando Karadimo, an influential priest condemned for sexual abuse, Il Messaggero newspaper said.

“Instead of the conclave, Errazuriz ought to be in prison,” Chilean doctor John Hamilton was quoted saying, “he has done nothing for us victims, the reports that he handed in to the Church left out names and facts, he traumatized us a second time by trying to sabotage our accusations.”

 Numerous cases of abuse by priests are reported in Savona, the former diocese of Calcagno. The Italian association Abuso publicly accuses the cardinal of “complete inaction in the face of paedophile priests.”

 Also under fire is former Los Angeles archbishop Roger Mahony accused of covering up scores of cases of abuse but who insists he will take part in the conclave vote to elect a new pope.