Church Abuse Victim Reacts to Pope's Visit, NBC Sandiego, April 15, 2008

Church Abuse Victim Reacts to Pope's Visit

NBC Sandiego
April 15, 2008

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/15892184/detail.html

[with video]

SAN DIEGO — A victim of the clergy sex abuse scandal is speaking out about Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States.

On his flight to the U.S., the pope said he was ashamed "deeply ashamed" of the scandal that rocked the Roman Catholic Church and vowed to work to make sure pedophiles don't become priests.

Paul Livingston said he was abused by a member of the Catholic Church at the age of 7. He was a part of the lawsuit that cost the archdiocese more than $650 million.

Accompanied by President George W. Bush, Pope Benedict XVI greets well wishers at Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday, April 15.
Photo by Mark Wilson

Livingston said he heard the pope's statements and now wants to see something done.

"Start by following that charter that was developed in 2002 when the scandal broke," Livingston said. "That's a good start."

Father Ron Pechance, a priest and professor at University of San Diego said he understands Livingston's pain.

"Some would say that he should go a little further and say, 'On behalf of the church, I am sorry,'" Pechance said. "Others have suggested some policies."

A policy Livingston suggests is a Web site, like Megan's Law, that publishes the all of the offenders from the Catholic Church.

"If I have children who live next door, I want to know," Livingston said.

Benedict pledged that pedophiles would not be priests in the Catholic Church.

"We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," Benedict said. "It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound."

Regardless of when or if the pope takes action, Pechance believes just the fact that he has addressed the issue is a step in the right direction.

"What he said on the plane was welcome," Pechance said. "I hope he reiterates it because it says that he is personally and deeply affected by it."

A $198 million settlement was agreed to by the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego last October. An average of $1.4 million per claimant to 144 people who said they were abused by priests, making the payment the second-largest by any diocese.