Pope's vow to hold clergy accountable for abuse draws disdain, praise

By John Bacon And Aamer Madhani
USA Today
September 27, 2015

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/27/pope-francis-philadelphia-sex-abuse-clergy-bishops-meeting/72922750/

Pope Francis greets seminarians as he walks the loggia to address the Bishops at at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015.

Pope Francis speaks to international bishops at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary on Sept. 27, 2015, in Wynnewood, Pa.

PHILADELPHIA — A much-anticipated pronouncement from Pope Francis on Sunday that clergy responsible for sex abuse will be "held accountable" drew disdain from victims advocacy groups but positive reviews from Vatican experts.

At a meeting with about 300 international bishops, Francis said he met privately Sunday with five adults who experienced sexual abuse by clergy, family members or teachers when they were minors. The pontiff promised "zealous vigilance" in protecting young people.

"I remain overwhelmed with shame that men entrusted with the tender care of children violated these little ones and caused grievous harm," he said. "I am profoundly sorry. God weeps."

David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said that years ago, the church pretended that abuse and coverups were not happening. The church narrative now, he said, is to express regret for past behavior and pretend abuse is not still happening.

"Is a child anywhere on Earth safer now that a pope, for maybe the seventh or eighth time or ninth time, has briefly chatted with abuse victims? No," Clohessy said after Francis' remarks Sunday. "A smart public relations move. That’s what this meeting is. Nothing more."

​Allegations of sexual abuse by priests date back decades but exploded into a crisis for the church in the USA more than 10 years ago after media reports detailing a litany of abuses and coverups by American bishops. The meeting with sex abuse victims Sunday was not unprecedented. Last year, Francis met with victims at the Vatican. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI,  held a similar meeting in 2008.

Bishop Edward Burns of Juneau, Alaska, said bishops have long acknowledged “the sacred has been twisted by evil.” Still, he said, the pope’s message on clergy abuse was significant.

“What we saw today … was a very clear call — one of accountability,” said Burns, who serves on the church’s bishops committee on child and youth protection.

Father James Bretzke, a theology professor at Boston College, said his view on the pope's comments is that more bishops may be punished for failure to take prompt, firm action in sex abuse cases. Three have been forced to resign in recent months amid controversy over handling of abuse cases.

"They will not likely be the only bishops punished for their lamentable lack of pastoral oversight," Bretzke said. "There is no free pass, especially for those charged with being shepherds of the people."

John Thavis, a former Catholic News Service reporter and author of The Vatican Diaries,  said he was encouraged by the pope's statement.

"The pope promises accountability, which has been the missing element in the Vatican's approach to sexual abuse," Thavis said. "He is delivering on this issue, too, having announced the establishment of a tribunal at the Vatican that will judge bishops who have failed to protect children."

The Vatican said the pope listened to the victims' stories and prayed with them. Francis told the group he was "profoundly sorry" for what they went through and thanked them for ensuring the tragic crimes were revealed. At the end of the meeting, Francis blessed them all, the Vatican said in a statement.

"Those who have survived have become true heralds of mercy," Francis told the bishops. "Humbly, we owe each of them our gratitude for their courage."

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and the vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the pope's remarks underscore the focus the church needs to have on the issue.

"A good deal of work is already going on in our church," DiNardo said. "The pope was very clear on what he sees as necessary to do. l support him."