Cardinal Pell apologises for Church sex abuse, admits cover-ups

CathNews ^ | May 27, 2013

[Alex Murphy]

The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, has admitted to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry that some members of the Church tried to cover up child sexual abuse by other members of the clergy, and has apologised for decades of child sex abuse within the Church, the ABC reports.

Cardinal George Pell told the inquiry he was "fully apologetic and absolutely sorry" about decades of child sex abuse within the Church.

Some members of the packed public gallery wept as Cardinal Pell was forced to answer questions about the Church's systemic cover-up of cases of rape of children as young as five-years old.

"I'm certainly totally committed to improving the situation. I know the Holy Father is too," he told the inquiry.

Despite being heckled during parts of the inquiry, Cardinal Pell defended the action the Church had taken action to tackle abuse. "Many people in the public think not only were there many mistakes made a long time ago, but there's been no progress at all over the last 20 years," he said.

"I don't think that's borne out by the facts of the case. But that's for people to judge."

Cardinal Pell says he recently learned that former Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns had destroyed documents to hide cases of abuse and he admitted that in some cases members of the clergy were placed above the law.

But he denies paying lip service to victims of Church abuse and only saying sorry because he was caught out. "I have already stated quite explicitly, acknowledged the errors that have been made by Bishop Mulkearns and [former Melbourne archbishop] Archbishop Little," he said.

He says while there have been some cases of cover-ups, the main problem is that many within the Church did not talk about the problem of child sex abuse because they were not "gossips".

"I think many persons in the leadership of the Church, I don't think they knew what a horrendous widespread [issue] we were sitting on," he said.

Questioned about his support for former priest and one of Australia's worst paedophiles Gerald Ridsdale, Cardinal Pell denied knowledge of the "extent" of Ridsdale's "career".

FACING THE TRUTH

The Catholic Church in Victoria sees the Inquiry as an opportunity to:

- Assist the healing of those who have been abused

- Examine the broad context of the Church’s response, especially over the last 16 years

- Make recommendations to enhance the care for victims and preventative measures that are now in place.

Information about the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry and the response of the Catholic Church in Victoria is available at www.facingthetruth.org.au

[Alex Murphy]

The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, has admitted to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry that some members of the Church tried to cover up child sexual abuse by other members of the clergy, and has apologised for decades of child sex abuse within the Church, the ABC reports. Cardinal George Pell told the inquiry he was "fully apologetic and absolutely sorry" about decades of child sex abuse within the Church. Some members of the packed public gallery wept as Cardinal Pell was forced to answer questions about the Church's systemic cover-up of cases of rape of children as young as five-years old....

....Cardinal Pell says he recently learned that former Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns had destroyed documents to hide cases of abuse and he admitted that in some cases members of the clergy were placed above the law. But he denies paying lip service to victims of Church abuse and only saying sorry because he was caught out. "I have already stated quite explicitly, acknowledged the errors that have been made by Bishop Mulkearns and [former Melbourne archbishop] Archbishop Little," he said. He says while there have been some cases of cover-ups, the main problem is that many within the Church did not talk about the problem of child sex abuse because they were not "gossips".

Colbert: One of these days, the Catholic church will make it 10 days with no sex abuse scandal

[TSgt]

The elite Horace Mann prep school doesn’t proclaim to be the light of the world either.

Meanwhile...

Sex-abuse investigations rip open Catholic Church’s secret files
For centuries, the church has maintained a second set of books containing sensitive documents such as notes on priests’ alcohol abuse, disputes over parish funds and, later, molestation allegations.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-church-secret-files-20130528,0,1511948.story?track=rss

[Dr. Thorne]

"I have already stated quite explicitly, acknowledged the errors that have been made..."

"Errors"?!!! When a shortshop boots a ground ball, it's an error.

When a bishop consciously hides/destroys evidence and testimony of vile, satanic acts visited on helpless children by perverted priests, it is criminality at its most reprehensible and grotesque.

Those who convince themselves that this horror has not been part and parcel of the Catholic Church for hundreds of years are either under mind control or are lying to themselves to avoid the truth that their church is irredeemably corrupt.

[aimhigh]

1 Tim 5:19-20
"Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

[servantboy777]

I think the thing that is puzzling is that the catholic church allows pedophile priest to repent and come back to the table, but those abused in many cases cannot.

When a child's innocence has been stolen by someone they trust, especially a clergy member, their life is sent into a downward spiral.

I've known many that held the secret for decades. Gone through self medication with alcohol/drugs to kill the pain, multiple marriages/divorces, addiction to pornography, anger and trust issues.....leaves that person deeply wounded.

The abusing priest gets shuffled to another diocese, goes though counseling and many times restored to his ministry....the abused is left to struggle a lifetime of emotional, spiritual dysfunction.

[TSgt]

The core doctoral issue of forgive and forget has been explored many times here on FR.

Victims are supposed to forgive and forget while supposedly rehabilitated priests go on to offend or are quietly retired.

And they wonder why their credibility is shot.

[Alex Murphy]

Meanwhile...

Sex-abuse investigations rip open Catholic Church’s secret files
For centuries, the church has maintained a second set of books containing sensitive documents such as notes on priests’ alcohol abuse, disputes over parish funds and, later, molestation allegations.

Since the time of the Enlightenment, the Catholic Church has maintained two sets of records: one for the mundane and a second "secret archive" for matters of a sensitive nature. The cache — known as sub secreto files, Canon 489 files, confidential files or C-files — was to be kept under lock and key, only for the eyes of the bishop and his trusted few.

After the files became known to prosecutors and plaintiff's lawyers, the American justice system has pried open the doors to an archive long kept sealed. Thousands of additional pages are set to become public in coming months, as more than a dozen Catholic orders — Salesians, Claretians, Vincentians and others — prepare to bare their own secrets pursuant to agreements with victims. L.A. County Superior Court Judge Emilie Elias could set the date for their release at a hearing Tuesday.

I'm not the least bit surprised, if this is true. What cannot be denied is that last February, the courts ordered that the LA archdiocese release 12,000 pages of files that were previously kept secret. If this isn't that fabled "second set of books", the only thing debatable now is whether there exists a third set of books yet to be released.

[Gamecock]

Don’t confuse books with files. < /sarc>

[TSgt]

Like a third fatima secret? ;-)

[Alex Murphy]

Like a third fatima secret? ;-)

ROTFL! You owe me a new keyboard!

[Frumanchu]

*snort*