AUSTRALIA
Canberra Times
June 4, 2013
Stephanie Anderson
Breaking news reporter at The Canberra Times.
Bishop Pat Power has thrown his support behind a petition calling for the Pope to address the systemic causes of abuse in the Catholic Church.
The former Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn was joined by retired auxiliary bishop of Sydney Geoffrey Robinson in Sydney to officially launch the world-wide petition, which has already attracted around 15,000 signatures.
Addressing media on Tuesday, Bishop Power said it wasn’t indifference from the church community blocking progress on sexual abuse cases.
“I don’t think there’s apathy there,” he said.
“I think it’s really frustrating that they can’t be heard. That’s why I applaud this petition. It gives ordinary, grassroots Catholics a voice.”
Bishop Robinson said the petition urged Pope Francis to consider issues such as the lack of a “strong feminine influence” in the Church, as well as the part celibacy plays in abuse.
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