By John Hooper
The Guardian
September 18, 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/18/pope-apologises-clerical-child-sex-abuse
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| Pope Benedict XVI talked of the shame and humiliation the Roman Catholic church felt over the 'unspeakable crimes' of priests who sexually abused children. Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images |
Pope Benedict XVI this morning returned to the issue of sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests, saying their crimes were "unspeakable" and that the entire Roman Catholic church felt "shame and humiliation".
In his address at the most solemn Catholic service of his four-day visit, in Westminster cathedral, he spoke of the sufferings of "all those individual Christians who daily unite their sacrifices to those of the Lord for the sanctification of the church and the redemption of the world". He mentioned the sick and the handicapped.
But then he added: "Here too I think of the immense suffering caused by the abuse of children, especially within the church and by her ministers. Above all, I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes.
"I also acknowledge, with you, the shame and humiliation which all of us have suffered because of these sins; and I invite you to offer it to the Lord with trust that this chastisement will contribute to the healing of the victims and the purification of the church and the renewal of her age-old commitment to the education and care of young people."
The pope made his comments at a service that was the occasion for religious pageantry of a sort rarely seen in Britain. He was preceded into the cathedral by more than 100 scarlet-robed priests and a constellation of bishops and cardinals. To a volley of applause from the congregation, he appeared at the climax of a musical build-up that could have come from the score for a sci-fi movie epic.
The comments come amid speculation that the pope will come face to face with victims of abuse at some point today. His timetable for tomorrow, the last day of his visit, is pretty full as he travels from London to Birmingham. Abuse victims will be among those taking part in a protest march this afternoon in Hyde Park in opposition to the pope's visit.
In response to this latest papal denunciation of abuse Peter Isely of Milwaukee of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said: "Why, if the pope feels so much remorse, won't he take action?"
He added: "As Pope, he's removed two paedophile priests and demoted no corrupt bishops. He's disclosed not one document about the cover up. He's backed not one secular law that better safeguards kids. He's not defrocked a single bishop who secretly moved known predators. Showing remorse isn't leadership. Taking decisive action is leadership."
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