POPE Asks Forgiveness for the Sexual Abuse of Children by Priests

By Gerard O'Connell
Vatican Insider
April 11, 2014

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/pedofilia-pedophilia-pederastia-33409/


Pope Francis today publicly asked “forgiveness” for the sexual abuse of children by priests, and stated clearly that “we will not take one step backwards with regards to how we deal with this problem and the sanctions that must be imposed”. On the contrary, he promised “even stronger” action.

In what was his strongest statement yet on this most serious problem, Francis gave this firm commitment when he addressed members of the International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE) in the Vatican on Friday morning, April 11. BICE is a Catholic NGO that works to protect the rights and dignity of children worldwide. Putting aside his prepared Italian text, he spoke to them from the heart about this serious problem that profoundly disturbs him because it has done such terrible harm to children and minors, and also tarnished the image of the Catholic Church.

“I feel compelled to personally take on all the evil which some priests, quite a few in number, (though) obviously not compared to the total number of priests, to personally ask for forgiveness for the damage they have done, for having sexually abused children”, he said.

“The Church is aware of this damage; it is personal, moral damage carried out by men of the Church, and we will not take one step backward with regards to how we will deal with this problem, and the sanctions that must be imposed. On the contrary, we have to be even stronger. Because you cannot interfere with children”, he stated firmly.

Since becoming Pope he has confirmed that he intends to pursue the hard line started under John Paul II and, developed in particular by Benedict XVI, to protect children in all Church institutions and environments. He has made clear that he intends to follow the ‘zero tolerance” approach in combatting the sexual abuse of minors by priests, by taking decisive action against the abusers and those who protect them, and by providing support and assistance to victims, and ensuring better formation of all who work with children.

The Argentinian Pope is well aware, however, that much more needs to be done in this whole field, also in terms of assistance to the victims and holding bishops accountable, and so last December he decided to set up a Commission to Protect Children. Then, on March 22, he named eight members to that Commission: four women, one of them a victim – Marie Collins (Ireland), one lay man, and three clerics including Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston who has been a leader in the US Church in addressing this problem.

He has given the Commission the task of drafting its mandate and plan of action, and he wants them to do so quickly. He will personally approve their mandate.

His statement today, in a broad-ranging address to the International Catholic Child Bureau, indicates beyond any shadow of doubt that he is deeply concerned about the abuse of children and minors by priests and he feels the pressing need, as head of the Catholic Church, to personally ask forgiveness for “the personal, moral damage” priests have done to children.

Significantly too, he wants to assure everyone and in the first place the men and women victims, that the Church, and he as Pope, “will not take one step backward” in dealing with this problem, and in relations to “the sanctions that must be imposed”. On the contrary, he said, “We have to be even stronger, because you cannot interfere with children”. The protection of children is the top priority.