Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pope condemns Irish sexual abuse

Pope Benedict XVI has told Irish Roman Catholic bishops sexual abuse of children by priests is a "heinous crime", the Vatican says.

The Pope summoned the 24 bishops to Rome to discuss their response to a child sex abuse scandal.

In his first comments released since meetings began on Monday, the Pope said Irish bishops had to face the scandal with courage and resolve.

In a report last year the Irish Church admitted covering up abuse for decades.

Victims of abuse have accused the Church of putting its own reputation ahead of concern for children.

They have written a letter to the Pope calling for the resignation of bishops "who engaged in this culture of cover-up".

"The lives of thousands of Irish people have been devastated by sexual abuse by priests," the letter said.

Four bishops have already offered their resignations - though only one has been formally accepted.

Secret files

Last year's Murphy and Ryan reports revealed how abuse was rife in many Catholic-run children's institutions in the Republic of Ireland, and how priests who were accused of abuse were just moved by bishops to new parishes.

Investigators found that Church officials compiled confidential files on more than 100 parish priests accused of sexual abuse, but that the files were kept secret.

At a Mass in Rome before the meeting on Monday, one of the Vatican's top cardinals called sexual acts committed against children "particularly abominable".

Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone said the scandal was "humiliating" but that the Church must face the challenge.

"Every kind of challenge can become a reason for purification and sanctification as long as it is illuminated by faith," he said.

Armagh Archbishop Sean Brady, the Primate of all Ireland, told Vatican Radio that the two days of meetings were part of a "journey of repentance, reconciliation and renewal".

No reply

The Pope is expected to issue a letter to the Irish faithful, aimed at "restoring confidence" in the Church, by assuring them of "concrete and effective" ways to prevent the scandal being repeated.

But Andrew Madden, an abuse victim who exposed Irish clerical paedophilia in 1995, said he was not optimistic much would change.

"It's clear that most of Ireland's bishops should go, because they conspired in covering up heinous crimes," he told the Associated Press.

"Most of them will cling to their positions regardless of the anguish this causes the victims."

There was further criticism of the Church on Monday when the Vatican envoy in Dublin, Cardinal Giuseppe Leanza, said he would not appear before a parliamentary panel to answer questions on the Church's cover-up.

"I wish to inform that it is not the practice of the Holy See that apostolic nuncios appear before parliamentary commissions," he wrote in a letter.

State investigators have also said the cardinal did not reply to letters seeking assistance.

Irish MP Alan Shatter said it was "not only deeply regrettable but incomprehensible" that the cardinal would not co-operate, given "it is acknowledged in Rome that members of the clergy in Ireland are guilty of abominable sexual abuse of children".
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SIC: BBC