Returning from a ceremony with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, Newfoundland Archbishop Martin Currie says it’s likely that the pontiff, if he visits Canada, will apologize for the sexual abuse of children by members of the clergy in Newfoundland.The Pope recently apologized for similar abuses in Australia during his visit to that country for World Youth Day, and apologized in April for abuses in the United States.
“I think if he ever gets to Canada he’ll probably incorporate that and Newfoundland and something with the residential schools,” Currie says.
“Individual bishops in individual dioceses have made apologies, they were made here with Bishop MacDonald and before, but to have it come from the Holy Father himself, I’m sure it will have a much greater impact,” he says.
Currie visited with the current Pope for his second time at the end of June during the Catholic feast of Saints Peter and Paul, when new archbishops around the world were given the Pallium, a lambs’ wool scarf that symbolizes their office.
Currie says Benedict, at 81 years, is an older man, but that in his opinion he is doing well at a difficult job.
“The present Pope is a shy man but he has a very pleasant personality. The thing that strikes you about him is the speeches and talks that he gives, he weighs every word, and I think what he says, he means for people to reflect on it and for universities to study what he says,” Currie says.
The decision for the Pope to make formal apologies for the abuses is a very wise one, Currie says, because the statement has more force when it comes from the highest office in the church.
“I think the whole sexual abuse stuff has been a great pain for the Pope, it has been a pain for most bishops and for the church, and it really hurt the church. There was a tremendous loss of trust and a loss of faith because of the abuse and the scandal,” Currie says.
“I think it’s wise that he does it — it comes from the top, and he shows that he is concerned, that he does know what is going on, and this has hurt, not only the church here, but it hurt the church universal,” he says.
Currie says that during his first visit with Benedict to make a report on his diocese, they spoke about ways to help victims of abuse.
“He is trying to make inroads of trying to set up a process where people who have been abused can return to the lay state, so he wants to deal with it in a very effective way,” Currie says.
There is an event in October in Canada that the Pope might attend, but Currie says his schedule is not normally announced very far in advance, and it may be some time before he visits this country.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce