Timothy Cardinal Dolan Calls Pope Francis’ Speech about How Church Handled Sex Abuse Scandals ‘beautiful’
By Adam Edelman
Timothy Cardinal Dolan on Thursday praised Pope Francis’ speech to his brother Bishops about their handling of the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal as “beautiful.” “He spoke about the courage, he spoke about the ongoing sorrow, and most importantly he spoke about the fact that we can never drop our vigilance, that we've always got to be as vigorous as we now are,” Dolan said on NBC’s “TODAY” about Francis’ approval a day earlier of how the Church has tried to restore order and make peace with victims. “He is for us bishops what we’re supposed be for our people. He’s the bishop of bishops,” Dolan said. “He spoke to us in a very affirming, yet challenging way, like a father, like sheppard, and that moved me very much.” On Wednesday, during a speech to Catholic bishops, Francis offered praise for a “generous commitment to bring healing to victims” and for acting “without fear of self-criticism.” The remarks drew a slew of criticism from an organization that represents abuse victims. “Almost without exception, they have shown cowardice and callousness and continue to do so now,” said Barbara Dorris, president of SNAP, or Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. OFFICIAL SCHEDULE FOR POPE FRANCIS' VISIT TO U.S. But at an address during a prayer service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew, Francis spoke more harshly of the pedophile priest scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church, calling what happened “crimes.” “I know how much the wounds of the last few years have weighed on your spirit and I have joined my efforts to yours in the efforts of succoring those victims,” he said. “And when we bring succor, then the victims are healed and we have to hope that such crimes will never repeat themselves.”
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