By David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Raw Story
April 15, 2008
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/ABC_73_disapprove_of_Popes_sex_0415.html
Pope Benedict XVI has set out for his first papal visit to the United States at a time when many American Catholics are less than satisfied with their church and its leader. According to a recent ABC News poll, 73% disapprove of how the Church has handled the sex abuse scandal that has cost it $2 billion.
The pope stated, while on his flight to the United States, that he was "deeply ashamed" of the scandal and would work to keep pedophiles out of the priesthood. However, victims groups say he has refused to meet with them and plan to protest his arrival.
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"There has to be more substance to what's he's saying," said Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian. "He actually has to take steps. He has to let victims and the public know what those steps are."
The pope himself was deeply involved in framing the Church's response to the scandal when he was still a cardinal. According to ABC's Brian Ross, "There are specific questions for the pope over how he personally dealt with more than 19 US bishops and cardinals accused of covering up the scandal or abusing children themselves."
None of the 19 has lost his title or been prosecuted for his actions. Even the former bishop of Palm Beach, Anthony J. O'Connell, who resigned in 2002 after admitting to abusing a seminary student in the 1970's, is still a bishop and resides peacefully in a Trappist abbey in South Carolina.
Abuse victim Michael Wegs said of O'Connell, "He should be in jail, definitely. ... The attitude of the bishops to victims and families ... is 'drop dead.' They don't care."
The Church argues that the bishops have been appropriately punished by being forbidden to serve publicly. However, Cardinal Bernard Law, the former archbishop of Boston who was at the center of the coverup, was not even penalized to that extent, but was simply transferred to a new post in Rome
Anne Barrett Doyle of the Bishop Accountability website told ABC, "I have to sadly conclude that [the pope] is not serious about ridding the church of corrupt bishops."
Gay Catholics also have plans to protest the papal visit, as do groups concerned with such issues as the ordination of women and the Vatican ban on contraception.
This video is from ABC's Good Morning America, broadcast April 15, 2008.
Transcript via closed captions
:: first this half hour. pope benedict xvi left home for the first visit to the u.s. at a country whose catholics are at a crossroads. in a new abc news poll 62% of the nation's catholics say the church is out of touch and 73% disapprove of the handling of the sexual abuse cases in the church. brian ross is here with the story.
:: good morning. with all of the pomp and circumstance, the pope can expect harsh criticism over his role that cost the church $2 million and great embarrassment and how he personally dealt with more than 19 u.s. bishops and cardinals accused of covering up the scandal or abusing children themselves.
:: reporter: not a single one of the 19 accused bishops hasost his title or been prosecuted, including the former bishop anthony o'connell. alleged by former students who have abused him. to the outrage of accusers, he lives on the beautiful grounds of south carolina, his title still in tact never kren sured.
:: the action are the the clergy dropped dead.
:: reporter: the church said the atused bishops have been punished appropriately.
:: you can not serve in any public way in ministry. that is a very, very significant consequence, and i would say a significant penalty.
:: reporter: but the church did not apply that standard in the case of cardinal bernard law, the former archbishop of boston. his alleged efforts to cover up abuse by dozens of priests costs the church tens of millions of dollars but cardinal law was given a new prestigious post at this basilica in rome and remains a cardinal.
:: from the actions taken by the pope so far, as a catholic, i have to sadly conclude that he is not serious of riding the church of corrupt bishops.
:: reporter: the copy was involved in many decisions before he became copy as cardinal joseph rats inger, with who game upset when they tried to ask him about a abuse case about an official in 2002.
:: come to me -- not yet.
:: it's fair he protected bishops from full punishment under the authority of the church.
:: reporter: church officials expect him to address the issue this week although not expected to issue a formal apology.
:: i think the fact he will mention the topic will itself be an apology.
:: but victims groups question the pope's sincerity and say they refuse to meet with them or representatives so they plan to protest.
:: mixed feelings about his visit.
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