Vatican Says Pope Confirms Benedict Xvi’s Line on Sex Abuse

By Lorenzo Totaro and Chiara Vasarri
Bloomberg Businessweek
April 5, 2013

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-04-05/vatican-says-pope-confirms-benedict-xvi-s-line-on-sex-abuse

Pope Francis stressed the need for the Catholic Church to act in line with his predecessor Benedict XVI in fighting sexual abuses, according to a statement by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.

The statement was issued after a meeting between the pontiff and Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, prefect of the congregation ruling on the Catholic doctrine.

“The Holy Father recommended in particular that the Congregation continue the line desired by Benedict XVI of decisive action regarding cases of sexual abuse primarily by promoting measures for child protection,” the statement said. The Pope also highlighted the need to help those who in the past have suffered such violence and that the perpetrators undergo “due process,” according to the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Lorenzo Totaro in Rome at ltotaro@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dan Liefgreen at dliefgreen@bloomberg.net