Scopical (Australia)
April 14, 2008
http://www.scopical.com.au/articles/News/World/4579/Pope-arrives-in-US-amid-child-sex-fury
The Pope has arrived in the United States today and was welcomed by US President George W. Bush in Maryland.
It marks the first US-trip for Pope Benedict XVI, with hundreds of Catholics also present at the airport for the Pope's arrival.
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| Pope arrives in US amid child-sex fury |
However the Pope's visit is likely to be overshadowed by fury at the Catholic Church's handling of child abuse claims emanating from organiastions around the US.
The Pope en-route to the United States addressed the problem, saying that pedophilia was utterly incompatible with the Church's base.
"We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," he said.
"It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound."
Claims worth tens of millions of dollars have besieged the Church, which has been accused of failing to prevent it's occurrence.
The Pope said it was hard for him to understand how the events had unfolded, and he was ashamed by the claims.
"It is difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betray in this way their mission... to these children," he said.
"I am deeply ashamed and we will do what is possible so this cannot happen again in the future."
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