Apologizing to all victims of clerical sexual abuse, the bishops of
Chile-- quoting Pope Benedict -- called upon priests who have abused
children to “openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the
demands of justice, but do not despair of God’s mercy.”
Citing a 2002 statement of Pope John Paul, the bishops added that “there
no place in the priesthood for those who would abuse children and young
people.”
The bishops’ April 8 statement followed a decision by the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith to consign Father Fernando Karadima, one
of the nation’s most prominent priests, to a life of prayer and penance
in reparation for the abuse he committed.
In their statement, the bishops upheld clerical celibacy as a “gift from God to His Church.”
“We are confident that by means of this painful experience of
purification and conversion, the Lord will strengthen the service that
the Church is called to offer the People of God and Chilean society,”
the bishops concluded.