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	Bishop Praises Pope's Handling of Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis By Travis Coleman Sioux City Journal April 18, 2008 http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/04/18/news/latest_news/614f7569081c67488625742f0070745a.txt SIOUX CITY -- Just hours after he returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., to see Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop R. Walker Nickless described the pontiff as kind, gentle and open. "It was a wonderful, exciting, enthusiastic event," Nickless, bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, said during a news conference today at the Central Catholic Offices. As part of the visit, Benedict met privately Thursday with victims of clergy sex abuse and spoke about the issue repeatedly, calling the crisis a "deep shame." Nickless agreed, saying the diocese believes Benedict is handling the abuse crisis the right way. "We're all ashamed at what has happened," Nickless said. During his visit, Benedict told the nation's bishops that the crisis was "sometimes very badly handled" and that they must reach out with love and compassion to victims. At Nationals Park, he urged Catholic parishioners to do what they can to heal the wounds caused by the sex abuse scandal. Nickless said that the diocese continues to meet with victims as soon as allegations are proved. "In Sioux City, we are following what the Holy Father asked us to do," he said. Nickless was among 300 bishops in Washington who attended Mass at Nationals Park and a White House visit this week. He's met with Benedict twice before, both times in Rome, including for the elevation of former Sioux City Bishop Daniel DiNardo to cardinal. He also met with Pope Paul VI with Pope John Paul II. "With this being the freshest, it has to be my favorite," Nickless said.
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