Special Broadcasting Service
June 24, 2008
http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/pressure_builds_for_papal_apology_550137
There is mounting pressure from victims' advocate groups for the Pope to apologise to victims of Church sex abuse in the lead up to World Youth Day (WYD).
With just weeks to go until the Holy See's arrival in Sydney for the massive Catholic event, various organisations are vociferously calling for an official apology, much like that given to Aboriginal Australians by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
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| There is mounting pressure for the Pope to apologise to victims of Church sex abuse when he is in Sydney for World Youth Day |
Recently, Pope Benedict visited the United States and expressed his regret at the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the country.
Many organisations in Australia are hoping he will do the same when he arrives here next month for WYD.
Broken Rites, a support group for victims of Church sex abuse, has written to Pope Benedict the XVI to arrange a private audience between the Pope and a number of young abuse victims.
Recognition 'vital'
President of Broken Rites, Chris MacIsaac, says in the letter recognition of the problem is an important step for moving forward.
"Given the main focus of Pope Benedict's visit is on youth, there is a need to acknowledge the damaged childhood (and subsequent lives) of those Australian victims," Ms MacIsaac says in the letter.
The Vatican's representative in Canberra, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, acknowledged receipt of the request, saying in a reply letter "I would like to assure you that the issue you raised in your letter has already been presented to the attention and consideration of the competent office of the Holy See".
Bishop of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, Father Michael Malone, is one of the few priests to speak publicly on the issue of sex abuse in the Church.
Victims 'need to be heard'
He has personally apologised to the victims of sex abuse from within his Diocese, and is calling for the Pope to do the same.
"Victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the Church personnel certainly need to be heard, and their stories need to be believed, and I have the sense of which, if this does not happen, they will be worse off," Father Malone says.
"Just as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised on behalf of Australia to the indigenous people, and I think that was a pivotal moment in Australia's history, and I know that it had a wonderful effect on the Aboriginal people," he says.
"I think an apology at the highest level from the Holy Father would do a lot to help these people move on," Father Malone says.
Adult industry weighs in
The Eros Association, an industry group for Adult services, says an apology to victims is vital.
"There can be no healing without an apology," Spokesman for the Eros Association, Robbie Swan, says.
Mr Swan says too often the Adult entertainment industry is demonised unfairly.
"Stop pointing the finger at the adult industry," Mr Swan says.
"There is no correlation between the adult industry and sex abuse."
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