Pope Again Sympathizes with Church Leaders over Abuse Fallout

New York Times
September 25, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/live/pope-visit-2015/pope-again-sympathizes-with-church-leaders-over-abuse-fallout/

I know that, as a presbyterate in the midst of God’s people, you suffered greatly in the not distant past by having to bear the shame of some of your brothers who harmed and scandalized the Church in the most vulnerable of her members… In the words of the Book of Revelation, I know well that you ‘have come forth from the great tribulation.’ I accompany you at this time of pain and difficulty, and I thank God for your faithful service to his people.

In the remarks he is delivering at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Francis is echoing the remarks he made on the church’s abuse scandals on Wednesday, when he told American bishops that he “supported your generous commitment to bring healing to victims – in the knowledge that in healing we, too, are healed – and to work to ensure that such crimes will never be repeated.” He also praised them for their “courage” and the “great sacrifice” they had made.

Advocates for the victims of sexual abuse by priests have condemned his words. They also questioned why Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles who was relieved of ministry duties over revelations that he had covered up for abusive priests, was traveling with Francis.

“Once again, he seems to be talking about the pain and embarrassment of the bishops, as opposed to the pain and embarrassment of the victims, who’ve been raped and sodomized,” said Barbara Dorris, the victims outreach director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. “Well, they created this crisis by protecting predators; children didn’t ask to be raped. So to compare the two things is grossly unjust.”