Group Urges Pope to Address Priestly Abuse, United Press International, April 9, 2008

Group Urges Pope to Address Priestly Abuse

United Press International
April 9, 2008

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/04/09/group_urges_pope_to_address_priestly_abuse/3344/

BOSTON -- A Catholic lay group based in Boston called Wednesday on Pope Benedict XVI to address the issue of sexual abuse by priests while he is in the United States.

Voice of the Faithful placed a full-page advertisement in The New York Times.

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"How can our Church be a moral beacon when so many bishops who repeatedly transferred known predators remain in office?" the group asked in the ad. "Pope Benedict should call for the resignations of those bishops."

The pope is scheduled to arrive in the United States Tuesday for a six-day visit to New York and Washington. His schedule includes an appearance at the United Nations and a meeting with President Bush.

Another group, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, also urged the pope to make a statement, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. SNAP says that Benedict should add Boston to his itinerary.

The sexual abuse scandal broke in Boston, where Cardinal Bernard Law resigned in 2002 amidst revelations that he had transferred pedophile priests. Law moved to Rome, where he holds several church positions.