Pope's Message Gives Abuse Victim Hope, Scottish Catholic Observer, September 24, 2010

Pope's Message Gives Abuse Victim Hope

Scottish Catholic Observer
September 24, 2010

http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/2971/popes-message-gives-abuse-victim-hope/

A victim of clerical abuse has called on the Church to honour Pope Benedict XVI's message to help victims of abuse, following his four-day state visit to the UK last week.

Chris Daly who, along with his brother, endured four years of physical and emotional abuse by nuns at Nazareth House in Aberdeen during the 1970s, presented a petition to the Scottish Parliament yesterday calling on the Scottish Government to set up a forum to allow victims to tell of their experiences and to provide compensation.

"We are holding him to his word that he will help us materially, spiritually and psychologically," Mr Daly said.

"We have had the apology from Pope Benedict, and it was a very fulsome apology while he was here on British soil.

"After that apology we are looking for actions for survivors. We are looking for all those things that Pope Benedict promised."

During last Saturday's Mass at Westminster Cathedral the Pope spoke of his 'deep sorrow' for the 'unspeakable crimes' of child abuse within the Church, in what was viewed as his strongest apology yet over the abuse issue.