Cardinal Francis George, in new remarks on the sexual abuse scandal involving clergy, commented Sunday on the "long-lasting and often devastating" impact on victims and said the Roman Catholic Church is focused on healing and on preventing future crimes. He recorded his comments on an audio CD sent to churches for playing at their Sunday masses at each priest's discretion.
The archdiocese posted George's text on its website.
"Mistakes have been made here and elsewhere" in response to the abuse, George said. He said the church has learned from them, and he outlined its efforts to keep children safe.
George also said the church reports to law enforcement any allegation of abuse involving a minor and that no priest with a sustained allegation is working in the archdiocese.
His themes hewed closely to the Vatican's emphasis in recent months on reconciliation and penitence. The Vatican in April said church workers should report clerical sex abuse to police if the law requires it, answering critics who have said the church long has discouraged such reporting to protect its reputation.
"Even though the abuse took place 20 or 30 or more years ago, the damage is long lasting and often devastating, and [victims'] pain affect all who are with them in the church," George said. Noting that victims feel at fault or ashamed, the cardinal thanked advocacy groups for assuring them they are not alone.
George also addressed allegations that Pope Benedict XVI refused to remove abusive priests while he was a cardinal. Then and now, the pope "was always clear in his resolve that the priesthood must be purified of any sexual predators and that prayers for the victims should be part of our lives."
Worshippers who heard the comments at Holy Name Cathedral praised George for stating the church's views. The remarks were "sincere and quite complete," said Adrien Duroc-Danner, a University of Chicago student living in Hyde Park. "The media attention has died out, but he was outlining the steps the church continues to take."
"It was appropriate. It needed to be said," said Alex Layao, an Ohio State University student in town with his girlfriend, Raven Baldwin. "We've been hearing about these cases but I never knew how the church was reacting to them."
Fr. Louis Cameli, who presided at the Holy Name masses, called the cardinal's message "a word of reassurance and encouragement. He's saying that we're not working in a vacuum, that we have put in place means to help the healing process."
George cited the archdiocese's mandatory training for staff in frequent contact with children.
The archdiocese has an office to assist victims and is planning a "healing garden" near Holy Family Church on Roosevelt Road. George said the garden would help achieve "personal peace and reconciliation."
Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, who has called for George to resign, said the staff training he's proud of resulted from lawsuits and public pressure.
"Most organizations that deal with children set those up decades ago," she said.
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