File images of French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin as he prepares to appeal conviction for failing to report child abuse committed by one of his priests French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin is set to go before the Court of Appeal on Thursday to try to overturn his conviction for failing to report the sex abuse of minors by one of his priests. The archbishop of Lyon, the most senior French cleric caught up in the global paedophilia scandal that has rocked the Catholic church, was given a six-month suspended jail term for failing to report sex abuse. He announced his resignation in March 2019 but Pope Francis refused to accept it until the completion of the appeal process. FILE IMAGES