Pope’s secretary: Bishops have responsibility for dealing with abuse
April 13, 2010
Msgr. Georg Gänswein, the Pope’s private secretary, has reminded a German newspaper that bishops have the responsibility of dealing with clerical abuse in their dioceses.
“No one has condemned abuse as strongly as the Holy Father and the Catholic Church,” said Msgr. Gänswein, referring to the Pope’s recent letter to Irish Catholics on the abuse scandal. Msgr. Gänswein added that “it is neither meaningful nor helpful” for the Pope to comment on each individual abuse case. “It is overlooked too fast that various bishops and bishops’ conferences carry responsibility.”
During an interview in which he looked back on Pope Benedict’s five years in office, Msgr. Gänswein expressed disappointment that the Pontiff’s decision to lift the excommunications of four bishops of the Society of St. Pius X was widely misinterpreted.
Msgr. Gänswein added that “unshakeable faith, humble firmness, [and] disarming mildness” are three important characteristics of the Pope.
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Further information:
- „Ein sanfter Papst, aber felsenfest in der Sache“ (Bild)
- Pope's secretary: No comment needed on each abuse case; bishops' responsibility (AP)
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