By Daily Mail Reporter
Daily Mail
July 14, 2008
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1034691/As-Pope-Benedict-arrives-Australia-told-An-apology-priest-sex-abuse-scandal-enough.html
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| Apology: Pope Benedict XVI made a 'statement of sorrow' to victims of sex abuse by priests in Australia |
The Pope's apology to victims of sex abuse by priests in Australia was dismissed today as not going far enough.
Benedict XVI told journalists that he wanted to make 'a statement of sorrow' as he arrived to attend a gathering of hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims.
Activists in Australia said that as well as making a formal statement, he should go further and stop the Church's opposition to compensation claims.
Bernard Barrett, a spokesman for the Australian victims' group Broken Rites, said: 'He made some general remarks about regret to reporters and that's not good enough. We want action, not words.
"The Pope must apologise for the way his Australian bishops have covered up sexual abuse, the Pope must tell his Australian bishops to stop blocking victims' access to justice in the civil law courts.'
Benedict touched down yesterday at a military air base on the outskirts of Sydney where he was greeted by prime minister Kevin Rudd.
He is in Australia to lead the Roman Catholic youth festival, World Youth Day which will take place on Thursday.
In preparation for the celebrations a giant wooden cross serving sailed into Sydney Harbor today.
A ferry carrying the 12.5-foot cross and an icon portraying Mary and Jesus glided past the city's opera house while pilgrims on board waved to those on shore.
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| Fervour: Pilgrims carry the World Youth Day Cross through the streets of Sydney |
Hundreds of people waiting at the wharf burst into applause and belted out Australia's unofficial anthem, Waltzing Matilda, as the boat docked and the cross was carried off the ferry for a procession through downtown Sydney.
The cross was carried in a procession along one of the city's main streets to a park, where hundreds of pilgrims lined up for a chance to place their hands on it.
Thursday's celebration is expected to attract more than 200,000 participants and is the largest public event in Australia since the 2000 Olympic Games.
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| The Cross and Icon of Our Lady arrives in Circular Quay on a Sydney ferry ahead of World Youth Day |
Benedict is to be greeted at Sydney Harbor on Thursday by a group of Aborigines and other young people.
He will then tour through Sydney in a parade that is expected to shut down most of the downtown district.
He will join a crowd expected at a vigil before leading Mass next Sunday at the culmination of the festival.
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| The World Youth Day Cross is transported across Sydney Harbor past the Sydney Opera House on a ferry |
Aides say the 81-year-old pontiff is in good health, though his schedule has been arranged to include a few days of rest.
Benedict flew more than 20 hours from the Vatican to touch down at a military air base on Sydney's outskirts
He was driven to a retreat in Sydney where he will recover from jet-lag and stay out of the public eye until the youth festival begins on Thursday.
During the flight, the Pope told reporters about the abuse scandal: 'It is essential for the Church to reconcile, to prevent, to help and to see guilt in this problem.
'It must be clear... that being a real priest is incompatible with this (sexual abuse) because priests are in the service of our Lord,' he said.
The exact number of victims of clergy abuse in Australia is not known, though activists say it is in the thousands.
The furore has been fuelled by accusations that Cardinal George Pell, the Catholic church's most senior cleric in Australia, covered up a case of a young man indecently assaulted by a Catholic priest 26 years ago.
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| Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the Richmond military air base near of Sydney |
Cardinal Pell has denied trying to gloss over the incident but has now agreed to refer the case to an independent panel of investigators.
In the southern city of Melbourne, more than 100 people, some wearing shirts with slogans such as 'Pope is wrong, put a condom on,' protested yesterday against World Youth Day and the Catholic church's attitude toward homosexuals, contraception and other issues.
Jason Ball, one of the organisers, said the protesters also object to governments giving millions of dollars to help pay for the event.
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| This is the Pope's first visit to Australia - the 10-day visit is the longest and furthest-flung trip of his papacy |
Officials say the event will generate millions of dollars in tourist income.
A similar demonstration is planned for Sydney next weekend.
During his trip, the Pope will travel around Sydney Harbour and visit some of the city's attractions before holding an open-air Mass at a race track at which half a million people are expected.
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| Warm welcome: The road leading out of the airbase was lined with spectators waiting to glimpse the Pope as he left |
There has been anger at draconian laws that have been drawn up giving police power to arrest and fine anyone who is considered to be annoying pilgrims.
The introduction of the laws, which carry fines of up to ?2,600, has been challenged by civil liberties groups and a judge is expected to decide on Tue whether they should be abandoned.
One group opposed to the holy visit, the NoToPope Coalition, says the laws are so tough that even wearing a T-shirt with anti-Catholic slogans could be seen by police as being illegal.
One group stood outside the state parliament building last week wearing T-shirts declaring: Pope Go Homo (ok).
On the plane, Benedict acknowledged the church in the West was 'in crisis' but insisted it was not in decline.
'I am an optimist' about its future, he said.
Asked about global warming, the Pope said there is a need to 'wake up consciences' about the issue.
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| Australian nuns and foreign pilgrims are held back by police as the Pope's motorcade leaves Richmond military airbase |
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