The Catholic bishop of Liverpool has backed Alder Hey hospital's treatment of terminally ill baby Alfie Evans amid fierce criticism from his supporters.
Doctors and staff were yesterday warned to hide their hospital badges and uniform for fear of attack as Sir David Henshaw, chairman of Alder Hey's trust NHS Foundation Trust, said the organisation had 'endured attacks upon our motivation, our professionalism and our ethics'.
Now Tom Evans, 21, who is Alfie's father and a Catholic, said he wanted to 'build a bridge' with the hospital staff after a judge said there would need to be a 'sea-change' in the relationship in order for Alfie to be allowed to return home.
The 23-month-old has a rare degenerative condition which means 'almost all of his brain has been destroyed' and further treatment was 'futile'.
The parents had previously campaigned for Alfie to be taken to the Vatican-linked Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome. In a series of legal battles judges consistently ruled it was not in Alfie's 'best interest' to travel and instead his life support should be removed and he be treated with palliative care in Liverpool.
This led to the parents filing a private prosecution for conspiracy to commit murder against three hospital staff at Alder Hey, a court heard on Wednesday.
However now in an attempt to bring Alfie home after his life support was removed, Evans thanked staff 'for their dignity and professionalism' and acknowledged the legal battle must have been an 'incredibly difficult time' for them.
He said he would be doing no more interviews or statements and asked to be 'left alone' and given privacy.
'Our lives have been turned upside down by the intense focus on Alfie and his situation.
'Our little family along with Alder Hey has become the centre of attention for many people around the world and it has meant we have not been able to live our lives as we would like.
'We are very grateful and we appreciate all the support we have received from around the world, including from our Italian and Polish supporters, who have dedicated their time and support to our incredible fight.
'We would now ask you to return back to your everyday lives and allow myself, Kate and Alder Hey to form a relationship, build a bridge and walk across it.'
He said: 'Together we recognise the strains recent events have put upon us all and we now wish for privacy for everyone concerned.
'In Alfie's interests we will work with his treatment team on a plan that provides our boy with the dignity and comfort he needs.'
The legal battle received fresh impetus when Evans travelled to Rome to meet Pope Francis who offered his support and called for Alfie to be brought to Italy.
Moved by the prayers and immense solidarity shown little Alfie Evans, I renew my appeal that the suffering of his parents may be heard and that their desire to seek new forms of treatment may be granted.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) 23 April 2018 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Paul Diamond, Evans' barrister and engaged by the Christian Legal Centre, told an appeal court on Wednesday that a military air ambulance was on standby 'at the request of the Pope'.
But support from the UK Catholic bishops has been much more restrained. They held back from supporting the parents and instead praised the professionalism of Alder Hey staff at the height of tensions between the two.
'It is tragic that parents and the staff are not able to come to agreement. We pray for a coming to agreement for the way forward,' Bishop John Sherrington said last week.
'We saw the pictures of Tom being met by Pope Francis and Pope Francis' prayer for baby Alfie.
'But the way dispute is resolved in this country is through the legal system and therefore if there are other views they must be presented through the legal system.'
Now the archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon, has again supported Alder Hey saying staff had done everything 'humanly possible' to help the child.
McMahon was in Rome to meet Pope Francis and their discussion led to an Italian chaplain at Alder Hey hospital to be withdrawn, according to LifeSite News.
