VATICAN CITY
RTE News
Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to “act decisively” to root out sexual abuse of children by priests and ensure the perpetrators are punished.
The Pope, in a meeting with the Holy See’s doctrinal chief, Archbishop Gerhard Muller, declared that combating sexual abuse was important “for the Church and its credibility”.
Pope Francis has inherited a Church mired in problems and a major scandal over the clerical abuse of children.
It was believed to be the first time he had taken up the issue of sex abuse with a senior member of his staff since his election on 13 March.
Archbishop Muller is head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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