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Church needs clear sense of accountability, says Vatican's sex-abuse prosecutor

CWN - September 05, 2012

The sex-abuse scandal has demonstrated the need to encourage a clear sense of accountability in the Church, says the Vatican’s top prosecutor.

Msgr. Charles Scicluna told Vatican Radio that the scandal—which he described as a “most tragic wound in the Church and in society”—should lead to a recognition that “we are accountable not only to God but to each other and to our peers in how we respond to difficult questions including sin and crime.”

Msgr. Scicluna said that Pope Benedict XVI has worked steadily to encourage this sense of accountability, and under his leadership “we are not only doing the right thing but also showing a good example.”

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  • Posted by: jimgrum697380 - Sep. 05, 2012 10:19 PM ET USA

    The Surreal: “we are not only doing the right thing but also showing a good example.” Late the night of August 12, 2012, a boy in Oregon was rescued by "partyers" who encountered the boy running breathless down the street. The priest who was chasing him appeared "wearing only underwear." Witnesses described the fear they saw in the boy. They called police. I cannot imagine that fear. Kyrie eleison...the "most tragic wound" is just so painful. It is difficult to celebrate the surreal.

  • Posted by: hartwood01 - Sep. 05, 2012 9:03 PM ET USA

    Nice speech,now let's see how fast the criminal bishops get yanked back to Rome and given a cushy job as a reward for their "good and faithful" service. Until these guys start serving jail time,I don't want to hear how sorry the Church is for their behavior.

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