US bishops praise Pope’s leadership in addressing clerical abuse
March 31, 2010
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ executive committee issued a statement on March 30 defending Pope Benedict’s leadership in addressing the scandal of clerical sexual abuse.
The bishops “write both to express our deep concern for those harmed by the crime and sin of sexual abuse by clergy and to express our profound gratitude for the assistance that Pope Benedict XVI has given us in our efforts to respond to victims, deal with perpetrators and to create safe environments for children,” the statement begins. “The recent emergence of more reports of sexual abuse by clergy saddens and angers the Church and causes us shame. If there is anywhere that children should be safe, it should be in their homes and in the Church.”
“We know from our experience how Pope Benedict is deeply concerned for those who have been harmed by sexual abuse and how he has strengthened the Church’s response to victims and supported our efforts to deal with perpetrators,” the bishops continued. “With the support of both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, we bishops have made a vigorous commitment to do everything in our power to prevent abuse from happening to children.”
“As we accompany Christ in His passion and death during this Holy Week,” the bishops concluded, “we stand with our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI in prayer for the victims of sexual abuse, for the entire Church and for the world.”
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Posted by: Bernadette -
Apr. 03, 2010 1:09 PM ET USA
Good start. Now, bishops, how about implementing the Dec. 1, 2005 "Instruction concerning the criteria of vocational discernment regarding persons with homosexual tendencies, considering their admission to seminary and to Holy Orders." Here is one example of what Benedict XVI has done during his pontificate. Bishops, it is up to you to enforce this instruction! And stop calling the problem endemic in our society "pedophilia"! Everywhere, not only in the Church, it is "HOMOSEXUALITY"!
