Priest Sex Abuse Victim Calls for Pope's Apology, NECN, April 15, 2008

Priest Sex Abuse Victim Calls for Pope's Apology

NECN
April 15, 2008

http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Priest-sex-abuse-victim-cal
ls-for-Popes-apology/1208218403.html

(Jennifer Eagan, NECN: Uxbridge, Mass.) " An alleged victim of priest sex abuse is speaking out on the eve of Pope Benedict's visit to the United States. He is calling for an apology from the Pontiff to ease the pain and suffering of victims.

Jennifer Eagan has more.

Script:

Pope Benedict the sixteenth will arrive in Washington D.C. Tuesday, to begin a six-day visit to the United States.

Benedict is expected to spread a message of spiritual renewal to American Catholics, who continues to cope with the sex abuse crisis.

The scandal first broke in Boston six years ago.

Abuse survivor George Shea of Uxbridge says the Pope's decision not to come to Boston is disappointing. Shea settled out of court against former Uxbridge priest Reverend Thomas Teczar.

A true heartfelt apology would be wonderful...for a lot of survivors...especially in Boston"

It is unknown if the Pope will meet with sex abuse victims.

Shea says it is important that he does so if he is to understand the current state of Catholicism, which has seen a membership drop-off in some communities after the sex abuse scandal.

Im not sure this guy has ever listened to someone's story...that can have a great impact to hear how horrible some peoples lives have been after being abused.

Many Massachusetts Catholics had hoped the Pope would come to Boston and address the crisis head on.

The Worcester diocese issued a statement saying, While we are all disappointed by the fact that the Holy Father will not be visiting Massachusetts, we know that Cardinal OMalley extended that invitation as fervently as possible on behalf of the Catholic Church. It is our prayer that every opportunity to address the issue with compassion, will be one more step towards healing and hope, in particular, for those who have been abused and their families, and in general for the entire church.

Shea says he has found peace more than thirty years after he was abused.

He will loosely follow the Pope's visit.