Saturday, April 19, 2008

Pope says pedophiles will be banned from priesthood

Pope Benedict XVI has begun a visit to the United States, where he has expressed deep shame over a decades-long sex scandal that has badly damaged the Catholic church in the country.

The 80-year-old pontiff was welcomed by President George Bush and his family in Washington.

Speaking to reporters, Pope Benedict said he would do everything he could to ensure that child molesters do not become members of the priesthood.

"The church must absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry. Pedophiles cannot be priests. ... I insist absolutely on this incompatibility," he said.

In recent years, the US Catholic Church has paid more than $US2 billion to settle clergy sexual abuse cases.

One former Benedictine priest who left the clergy over the child sex scandal told Reuters the Pope's promise was "25 years too late".

"As chief enforcer for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for 24 years, he had the power and the jurisdiction to stop this, but he did nothing," Patrick Wall said.

"The church has lost over three billion dollars in settlements and in the next 10 years will lose another three billion dollars if things don't change. The church is scared," he said.

Pope Benedict is expected to discuss the issue with members of the clergy at a meeting in New York's St Patrick's Cathedral.

However he has been criticised by victims of pedophile priests for not scheduling a meeting with them during his visit.

An official welcome ceremony for the Pope will take place at the White House later today, to coincide with his 81st birthday.

He will then hold talks with President Bush on a range of issues, including the war in Iraq, and religious tolerance.

The Pope is also scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he is expected to make a plea for world peace.
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