Pope Francis Finally Admits: ‘One In 50 Catholic Priests Are Paedophiles’, Inquisitr (July 13, 2014)

Pope Francis Finally Admits: ‘One In 50 Catholic Priests Are Paedophiles’

Inquisitr
July 13, 2014

http://www.inquisitr.com/1350232/pope-francis-finally-admits-one-in-50-catholic-priests-are-paedophiles/

Pope Francis is known for being one of the more outspoken and candid Popes of recent times, However, now the Pontiff has gone even further, and admitted that the Catholic church has a problem with pedophilia, – a big problem.

In a frank interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Pope is quoted as saying that, in his opinion, at least one in 50 Catholic priests are pedophiles. He confirmed that his advisors had informed him that “pedophilia inside the church is at the level of two percent,” and is a “leprosy” for the church, in his own words.

The Pope continued, “Corruption of a child is the terrible and unclean thing imaginable,” and promised to “confront it with the seriousness it demands.”

In saying that, the Pontiff added, “The church is fighting for the eradication of the habit and for education that rehabilitates. But this leprosy is also present in our house,” admitting for the first time officially that the Catholic church has issues in this area.

Even though the figures Pope Francis was given were supposed to reassure him they had the opposite effect, as he told the publication:

“I have to say that they do not reassure me by any means. On the contrary I find them deeply concerning. Among the two per cent who are paedophiles are priests and even bishops and cardinals. This state of affairs is intolerable and its my intention to tackle it with the severity it deserves.”

But even though the new Pope has made steps to deal with pedophilia within the Catholic church, the UN said earlier this year that the Vatican hasn’t done enough to tackle the crisis properly.

Nevertheless, Pope Francis’ latest interview with the Italian publication does shed some light on his personal feelings on the matter. What remains to be seen is what serious effect, if any, he can have on stopping the abuse of children within the church.