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	Pope's Concern at Child Abuse Yorkshire Evening Post September 20, 2010 http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Pope39s-concern-at-child-abuse.6539833.jp Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged the sex abuse scandal "seriously undermines the moral credibility" of the Church. But he said Church leaders had taken "serious steps" to ensure children are protected from harm. And he suggested the Catholic Church in Britain could share the lessons it has learned about child abuse with wider society. The Pontiff told Catholic bishops of England, Scotland and Wales: "(A) matter which has received much attention in recent months, and which seriously undermines the moral credibility of Church leaders, is the shameful abuse of children and young people by priests. "I have spoken on many occasions of the deep wounds that such behaviour causes, in the victims first and foremost, but also in the relationships and trust that should exist between priests and people, between priests and their bishops, and between the Church authorities and the public. "I know that you have taken serious steps to remedy this situation, to ensure that children are effectively protected from harm and to deal properly and transparently with allegations as they arise." Speaking at the Seminary Chapel at Oscott College, Sutton Coldfield, he continued: "Your growing awareness of the extent of child abuse in society, its devastating effects and the need to provide proper victim support should serve as an incentive to share the lessons you have learned with the wider community. "Indeed what better way could there be of making reparation for these sins than by reaching out, in a humble spirit of compassion, towards children who continue to suffer abuse elsewhere?" The Pope expressed his "deep sorrow and shame" after meeting five clerical sex abuse victims at the residence of the Vatican's ambassador to the UK in Wimbledon, south west London. Yesterday, on the fourth and final day of the state visit, more than 50,000 people from the UK and around the world converged on Cofton Park in Rednal, Birmingham, to see the Pope address a special Mass to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman. It is the first beatification to be carried out by Benedict since he was elected Pope in 2005, a mark of his lifelong interest in the 19th century clergyman.
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