A special greeting goes today to the “METER” Association on the day for children who are victims of violence. And this gives me the opportunity to turn my thoughts to those who have suffered and are suffering because of abuse. I would like to assure them that they are present in my prayers, but I would also say emphatically that we must all commit ourselves with clarity and courage to every human person, especially children, who are among the most vulnerable, that they might always be defended and protected.
- Pope Francis
Remarks after the Regina caeli prayers
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Pope Francis and pedophile priests:
The same bluntness as Benedict XVI
by Luigi Accattoli
Translated from
May 6, 2013
The blunt words said Sunday by Pope Francis on the problem of priestly sex abuses against children and minors were not surprising but even expected by those familiar with his biography.
But it was the first time he spoke about it as Pope, although one month ago, he instructed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to continue pursuing the 'zero tolerance' line set down by Benedict XVI.
The chronicle of what Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio did in this respect does not say much, but his public position is well known, influenced by the experience of priest abuses in the USA and Ireland.
We know this because it is described in detail in the book
Heaven and earth which is a record of conversations between Cardinal Bergoglio and Rabbi Abraham Skorska of Buenos Aires, originally published in 2010 (and now available in various languages).
In the book chapter entitled "His disciples", Bergoglio states that he admired "the courage and rectitude" shown by Benedict XVI in fighting against sexual offenses by the clergy.
Pope Francis's intention to follow his predecessor in this matter is evident in his Sunday statement using the words 'clarity and courage'.
In the book, Bergoglio rejected the idea that "the problem was linked to priestly celibacy" and says categorically: "If a priest is a pedophile, he already was before he became a priest".
He was critical of the 'corporate reaction' by many bishops who wished to keep the 'scandal' entirely as an internal problem and drew down a curtain of secrecy "in order not to damage the image of the Church as an institution".
Two sentences from the chapter clarify and strengthen what he said on Sunday: "When a scandal occurs, one must never pretend not to see it... One cannot be in a position of power and destroy the life of others".
Perhaps there is no one now in the Church who questions the policy of purification and penitence undertaken by Benedict XVI, but if any opponents are left, Pope Francis's statements on Sunday should rid them of the illusion that under the new Pope, it may be possible to return to the old practice of secrecy in these matters.
[Gee, anyone who still thinks that has to be demented! But, of course, there will always be inexplicable holdouts here and there. We have the regrettable examples of Cardinal Mahony in Los Angeles and some of the Irish bishops who persisted in covering up for offending priests even after the 2001-2002 reforms decreed by John Paul II and implemented by the CDF.]
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 08/05/2013 00:21]