Pope Francis Visit to Philadelphia Brings His Voice of Change to the Region

Times of Trenton
December 3, 2014

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/editorial_pope_francis_visit_to_philadelphia_brings_his_voice_of_change_to_the_region.html

Pope Francis has his picture taken inside St. Peter's Basilica in this August 2013 file photo. Pope Francis is coming to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, File) (Associated Press)

The pope has also encountered criticism.

Advocates for those sexually assaulted by predator priests contend the pope has not taken concrete steps to rout out the molesters and rapists who have found sanctuary within the church.

In the wake of possibly centuries of such abuse, their impatience is wholly justified.

Yet, Pope Francis cut through miles of red tape to initiate investigation into clerical sexual abuse last month in Spain, and he has vowed to hold bishops accountable for their handling of pedophile priests.

Over the summer, during his first meeting with Catholics molested by members of the clergy, he apologized for “the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness.”

That changing attitude is evident in the apology by Trenton Bishop Daniel O’Connell to a South Jersey man who was assaulted hundreds of times by the diocese’s former youth leader during the 1980s and ‘90s.

Acknowledging the years of abuse, O’Connell’s publicly extended to the victim “my heartfelt apology for what he has had to endure. I offer my prayers for him and for all those affected by the horrible scourge of sexual abuse of minors.”

Such a statement would have been inconceivable during previous papacies.

And we hope it’s an indication of a more honest, more humble confirmation of the church’s culpability.

“The truth is the truth and we should not hide it,” Pope Francis has said.

Amen to that.