UNITED STATES
Washington Post
By Brian Murphy September 28
Pope Francis broadened his warnings over the church’s sex abuse scandals Monday, saying that clergy and others who helped cover up wrongdoing are also guilty in the eyes of the Vatican.
The pope also indirectly added his voice to U.S. religious showdowns — only hours after wrapping up his three-city visit — by expressing strong backing for those who take a stand for their spiritual views.
The pope made no specific references, but it is certain to be perceived as a reference to current battles over refusals to obey laws permitting same-sex marriage.
In wide-ranging comments by the pontiff during his flight back to Rome, Francis shifted from the serious to the sublime: shrugging off his celebrity, raising interest in a possible groundbreaking trip to China and reflecting on the huge outpouring during his first visit to the United States.
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