BishopAccountability.org
	Pope Benedict’s Public Pledge to Deal with Scandal Overdue Youngstown Vindicator May 1, 2010 http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/may/01/pope-benedict8217s-public-pledge-to-deal/?newswatch With each day bringing new rev- elations of sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic priests around the world, Pope Benedict XVI has correctly concluded that the Vatican’s strategy of stonewalling and criticizing the press is not working. Indeed, the defense of the pope by a politically connected priest in Rome who is on trial for allegedly sexually molesting young boys serves only to highlight the fact that there is still a tendency to circle the wagons. “I am a priest, the infamies of which I am accused accumulate other hatreds, not only on myself, but it [the hatred] bounces off immediately like a stone on the water to hit the Church and the Holy Father,” said the Rev. Ruggero Conti. He is accused of sexual violence and prostitution concerning seven young boys who frequented his parish in a working class neighborhood of Rome. Conti, who served as an adviser to Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno and worked in the Vatican’s backyard, denounced what he called “mud” being thrown at the pope. But Benedict’s public pledge last week that the church would investigate allegations of sexual abuse by the clergy and bring to justice the perpetrators blunted the impact of Conti’s comments in court. The pledge was made during the pope’s weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square attended by pilgrims and tourists. According to the New York Times, Benedict told the gathering that he had met with victims of abuse during a recent visit to Malta and “assured them of church action.” Click to learn more... “I shared their suffering and emotionally prayed with them,” the Times quoted Benedict as saying. The Vatican has said that the eight Maltese men who were abused as children by priests were told that the church would investigate and bring to justice those responsible. That is certainly an important development — but only if it means that bishops who gave aid and comfort to pedophile priests will also be called to account. Thus far, the church’s hierarchy has generally managed to remain unscathed. Indeed, the Vatican has been criticized for not only giving the elders of the church a pass, but even providing them with new assignments when things became too hot in their dioceses. The real proof of Pope Benedict’s commitment to deal openly and honestly with this growing worldwide scandal will come when he has to answer the myriad questions that have arisen about his role as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. At the time, he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and his duties included dealing with the allegations against priests. There are credible reports that Ratzinger made a determined effort to sweep the scandal under the rug. The Associated Press has reported that the cardinal was urged to defrock a California priest who had a record of molesting children, but he refused, citing “the good of the universal church.” Foundation shaken The very foundation of the 1 billion strong Roman Catholic Church has been shaken, as evidenced by what is taking place in Ireland. An Irish government report on the mishandling and concealment of cases of priestly abuse has resulted in the resignation of Bishop James Moriarty, according to the New York Times. Moriarty and two auxiliary bishops were named in the report. The scandal is tearing the church apart and only the pope can restore people’s faith. But in order to do so, Benedict must acknowledge his role in the victimization of innocent children by men who are presumed to be holy.
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