VATICAN CITY
Associated Press
BY NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press
May 12, 2018
VATICAN CITY
The Vatican made it clear Saturday that Pope Francis had summoned Chile’s bishops to Rome for a papal dressing-down because of their role in covering up sexual abuse by priests and their “grave omissions” in caring for victims.
In an exceedingly harsh statement that set the tone for next week’s meetings, the Vatican said Francis wanted to discern responsibilities for the crisis and map changes in Chilean church to prevent these “devastating wounds” from repeating themselves.
“It is fundamental to re-establish trust in the church through good pastors … who know how to accompany the suffering of victims and work in a determined and untiring way to prevent abuse,” the statement said.
For years, sex abuse victims have blasted the Chilean hierarchy for discrediting their claims, protecting abusers, moving them around rather than turning them over to police and then handing out light sentences when church sanctions are imposed.
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