Posted on 03/20/2010 9:35:25 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Irish victims of clerical child sexual abuse are deeply disappointed by Pope Benedict's letter of apology as it fails to address the role of senior church leaders, a group representing victims said.
"My first response was deep disappointment in the letter," said Maeve Lewis, executive director of victims group One in Four.
"We feel the letter falls far short of addressing the concerns of the victims."
She said the Pope's letter focused too narrowly on lower-rank Irish priests without recognising the responsibility of the Vatican and senior Irish clerics for protecting offenders and dealing with victims.
"There is nothing in this letter to suggest that any new vision of leadership in the Catholic church exists," she said.
The letter also does not refer to the resignation of the head of the church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, which victims groups have demanded, she said.
Pope Benedict expressed his "shame and remorse" for episodes of child sex abuse, saying "serious mistakes" were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
"You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry," the Pope said in the letter signed on Friday.
He said priests and religious workers guilty of child abuse "must answer" for their crimes "before properly constituted tribunals".
"Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God's mercy," he said, addressing himself to offenders.
The Pope announced a mission to Irish dioceses rocked by sex scandals to assist "the local church on her path to renewal" and said he was ready to meet again with victims of child abuse.
Predominantly Catholic Ireland has been shocked by three judicial reports in the past five years that revealed ill-treatment, abuse and cruelty by clerics and a cover-up of their activities by church authorities.
New abuse scandals have also come to light in the Pope's native Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
What?
You are ignorant. That is not a pejorative but is indeed a statement of fact. That is what you continue to demonstrate by publicly flaunting your poor knowledge of Scripture and the history of Christianity.
A.A. Cunningham to ctdonath2
Once again, will your posting history reflect any "I'd hit it" or "Not guilty" comments?
As you say, I'm just a "benevolent soul with altruistic ideals" - and you are my benefactor. Thanks for noticing.
Would you like a cookie?
You and the messiah obviously studied under the same debate coach.
PONTIFICAL SECRETS
“Pope Benedict XVI faced claims last night,” according to the Guardian, “he had ‘obstructed justice’ after it emerged he issued an order ensuring the church’s investigations into child sex abuse claims be carried out in secret. The order was made in a confidential letter, obtained by The Observer, which was sent to every Catholic bishop in May 2001.”
“It asserted the church’s right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood. The letter was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger… Lawyers acting for abuse victims claim it was designed to prevent the allegations from becoming public knowledge or being investigated by the police. They accuse Ratzinger of committing a ‘clear obstruction of justice’.”
The letter, the newspaper continues, “orders that ‘preliminary investigations’ into any claims of abuse should be sent to Ratzinger’s office” and that all proceedings must be internal and conducted “only by priests.”
“‘Cases of this kind are subject to the pontifical secret,’ Ratzinger’s letter concludes. Breaching the pontifical secret at any time while the 10-year jurisdiction order is operating carries penalties, including the threat of excommunication.”
So Ratzinger believes that anyone telling the authorities of crimes against children should be excommunicated but the pedophile should be protected and even promoted...
What a sick cult it has become.
Nazis, moral authority, what a joke.
Fortunately your contempt and envy of the Church founded by Christ and continually guided by the Holy Spirit through Apostolic Tradition and Apostolic Succession has no relevance in the context of nearly 2000 years of being and remaining the greatest institution for good in the history of the world. In the big picture you are insignificant and inconsequential.
And Bishops are not elected by the lesser priests under their authority or by the parishioners nor do they answer to them but to the Pope.
Politicians are nothing more than hired hands so are the priests of the Catholic Church are to be treated like hired shepherds? Just another business or service organization?
AACunningham 1stMarineAviator
Nonsense. The Church allowed this criminally immoral condition to thrive under its nose. They were in fact complicit. They have surrendered any moral high ground. And your arrogance about purporting to know God’s view of me or any other soul does little to persuade one of your piety.
Nonsense. he Catholic Church has been extremely proactive in dealing with this problem as compared to all other similar institutions. All published data clearly shows that sexual abuse by Protestant clergy is five to ten times higher than among Catholic clergy. Why don't you tell us the statistics and actions taken by your church or are you still complicit by your denial?
Why not go to the judge and complain that there is far worse going on in other groups and since they lack sincere outrage at their own offences predator priests should be treated lightly.
After all, it was Peter who said that judgment began with house of God, didn't he?
The Church has been extremely proactive??? Now you’re just being funny.
Begin with the beam in your own eye. Your denial is contributing to the continuing exploitation by Protestant clergy. Your crocodile tears over the victims do not mask your hatred for the Catholic Church.
“The redemption, forgiveness, charity, and salvation that Christ gave his life on the cross for that make me proud and joyous to be a......NOT CATHOLIC...CHRISTIAN.......You should be proud to be a Christian and forget the church.....Stop putting the church before Christ.....Christ doesn’t need a church or denomination.....
The perverts, the child molesters, the criminals that covered and protected them, the excusers, these obviously have shown a deep love and respect for the Catholic Church and the God they claim to worship.
And if someone speaks the truth about them?
“Begin with the beam in your own eye. Your denial is contributing to the continuing exploitation by Protestant clergy. Your crocodile tears over the victims do not mask your hatred for the Catholic Church.”
The last refuge is to make a personal attack.
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