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	Bishop Praises Pope Session with Victims Associated Press, carried in Ohio.com April 18, 2008 http://www.ohio.com/news/ap?articleID=496839&c=y The bishop of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese said Friday that Pope Benedict XVI brought spiritual healing to victims of clergy sex abuse. Bishop Richard Lennon said at a news conference inside the sanctuary of St. John Cathedral in Cleveland that he got to know some of those victims who met with the pope when he was with the Archdiocese of Boston, which he briefly led. He said they seemed pleased to have a chance to meet and speak with the pope Thursday in Washington. "From their point of view it was a very significant moment of healing and recognition of their pain and the difficulties that they have experienced," Lennon said. Claudia Vercellotti, who heads Toledo's chapter of the Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests, said the papal session with victims wasn't sufficient. "Empathy, sympathy and meetings are nice, but they don't protect kids," she said. At the 25-minute victims' session with the pontiff, one man, abused as an altar boy, said he placed his hand over Benedict's heart as he pleaded with him to fix the problem of sexual abuse of minors, a major issue within the church for six years. Just before the pope's arrival at that session, Lennon spoke with three victims he had known from Boston. "They recognized me in the crowd and we had an exchange, because I had met with them several times when I was apostolic administrator in Boston. The content of our talk, outside of saying it was very positive, should remain between myself and those I spoke with," Lennon said. Lennon was also among the bishops who attended a prayer meeting with the pope. He did not have a one-on-one conversation with him. "He called on all the faithful, especially the bishops, to be very strong in their witness to the faith, and their proclamation of the faith, with the strong conviction that the Catholic church has much to offer not only to the spiritual well-being of individuals but also to the good of society," Lennon said. The organization wants the church to unseal records concerning priests, expose church leaders accused of sex crimes and discipline bishops who cover them up. Lennon said the Cleveland diocese has tried to be responsive and improve its sensitivity to the issue. He said the church has made "a tremendous commitment in light of a very terrible situation."
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