SNAP President Says ‘Lofty Words’ From Pope Francis On Priest Sex Abuse Not Enough

By Nancy Harty
CBS Chicago
September 27, 2015

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/09/27/snap-directory-says-lofty-words-from-pope-francis-on-priest-sex-abuse-not-enough/

Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on September 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. Pope Francis is the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress and will finish his tour of Washington later today before traveling to New York City. Photo by Mark Wilson

(CBS) — Pope Francis’ pledge to protect children from sexual abuse by priests and to hold accountable those responsible did not win over the head of a local survivors group.

The pope talking with sex abuse victims is nothing new, Barbara Blaine says.

The president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests says the pontiff has held such meetings seven or eight times before and other than providing comfort to those in attendance, it doesn’t do much.

Blaine called the meeting a “photo op” and referred to his comments to U.S. bishops as “timid.”

The pontiff said he commits to careful oversight to ensure that youth are protected and all those responsible will be held accountable.

Blaine says “lofty words” from Pope Francis won’t protect children and he should stop acting like the abuse is over and take steps to prevent it.

That includes handing over to police the Vatican’s files on priest sex crimes and defrocking bishops who covered up abuse.

Those concrete steps, she says, would prove he’s interested in change and not just symbolic moves.