THE Archbishop of Cardiff, who has faced repeated calls for his resignation, has vowed to stay in his post until his retirement in 2004.

Speaking exclusively to the Argus in his first interview since being struck down by ill health, the Roman Catholic Archbishop, the most Reverend John Aloysius Ward, said he will not be hounded out of his position by repeated attacks on his running of the diocese.

"The question of my staying or going is between myself and the Pope," he said.

The Most Rev Ward says he has not intention of bowing to criticism voiced by what he described as a handful of "disloyal" priests.

"A very small number of priests have been disloyal, priests who seem to think the more negative press coverage I get the sooner I will go. I can't be forced out of my office. I can't allow distorted truth to force me out.

"If I go, no Bishop would be safe in their position. You just can't give in."

The attacks on the Archbishop's running of the Cardiff diocese started last year following two high-profile scandals of Father Joe Jordan and former Chepstow priest Father John Lloyd who were both jailed for sex attacks on children.

The Archbishop was publicly criticised for his handling of the situation leading up to the court cases.

But speaking from his Cardiff home the most Rev Ward said: "I have done nothing which warrants a resignation. Yes with hindsight I might have done some things differently but I have always acted in good faith."

Last year , a deep vein thrombosis forced the Archbishop to take a back seat and the Pope appointed an Apostolic Administratorfor the Archdiocese of Cardiff, Bishop Edwin Regan. He is still in charge of the day-to-day running of the Archdiocese and will be until the Archbishop is well enough to take over.

Earlier this month the criticism started up again following the publication of the Nolan Report, the final part of an independent inquiry into paedophile priests.

The report made 83 recommendationsin its Programme For Action to create in the words of Lord Nolan who headed the report " a secure environment for children".

Despite a commitment from Bishop Regan to implement the recommendations in full there have been further claims that the Archbishop should go to enable the Archdiocese to move forward.

But a determined Archbishop said he intended to stay in post until his retirement on his 75th birthday in the year 2004.