Savile Knighthood Not Revocable By Vatican

Posted: Oct 27 2012

LONDON – A major scandal is sweeping through the BBC after news spread that one of its most popular 70s and 80s star, Jimmy Savile, allegedly molested over 300 young girls, mostly minors.

Savile was one of the UK’s most famous and most adored stars. He received numerous accolades during his career as a disc jockey, television presenter, media personality and charity fundraiser.

Jimmy Savile hosting the 1976 BBC music chart show ‘Top of the Pops’. A video of this episode leaked showing Savile clearly groping a young girl. Photo Credit; Photo News

He also received the distinctive Papal knighthood granted only by the Vatican.

Despite allegations of sexual abuse, the Vatican says it cannot rescind the papal knighthood awarded to television star.

The Catholic Church of England said on Saturday it had contacted the Holy See to ask it to posthumously revoke Savile’s honor in recognition of the “deep distress” of the victims allegedly abused by Savile, a well-known BBC children’s television host.

But Vatican spokesman, the Reverend Federico Lombardi, told The Associated Press the names of people who receive the knighthood don’t appear in its yearbook and that the honor dies with the individual.

Lombardi said Savile never would have received the honor had the truth about his behavior been known.

Jimmy Savile died October 29 2011 at the age of 84. News of his sexual abuse aired only after his death.

BBC chairman George Entwistle has already been interrogated by a parliament commission why the broadcasting company kept Savile’s actions a secret and never acted upon hundreds of claims filed by young teens accusing Jimmy of raping and sexually harassing them.

Entwistle said in a statement:

“This is a horrendous affair one can only look back at with great shock.”