A top American cardinal has said that Pope Benedict should be praised for how the sexual abuse cases are being dealt with by the Vatican. His comments came as Father Ronat of Cloyne who was accused of child abuse has spoken out about how he feels his victims have a “deliberate vendetta” against him.
Cardinal William Levada, the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke at a Vatican-backed symposium on safeguarding children. He said Pope Benedict has been “instrumental” in setting up the standard to crack down on pedophilia within the clergy. He also said the Pope had been supportive of US bishops in the fight against abuse.
In his role as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Levada ensures doctrinal purity and, in recent decades, has shaped the Holy See's policies on handling abuse cases involving clergy.
Levada lamented the fact that Pope Benedict “has had to suffer attacks by the media over these past years in various parts of the world when he should receive the gratitude of us all, in the Church and outside it."
The group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), from the United States, has already dismissed the four-day, closed door gathering.
SNAP official, Joelle Casteix said, “True change and child protection comes through accountability from secular authorities. Until we have that, we must see Rome's meeting for exactly what it is: cheap window dressing."
She continued that the Vatican “still cannot do the simplest, cheapest, and most child-friendly action possible: Make public decades of secret files on clergy sex offenders and enablers."
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Read More:
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Levada did acknowledge some of the Catholic Church’s shortcomings in dealing with the sexual abuse of minors by the clergy.
He said “The more than 4,000 cases of sexual abuse of minors reported to the CDF (the congregation on doctrine) in the past decade have revealed, on the one hand, the inadequacy of an exclusively canonical (or canon law) response to this tragedy, and on the other, the necessity of a truly multifaceted response."
Marie Collins, an Irish woman, spoke at the conference on Tuesday. She was raped by a priest as a teen in a Dublin hospital. Last week, she urged Pope Benedict to publicly seek forgiveness for church leaders who put innocent children into the safe keeping of church institutions.
The Associate Press reports that Primate Sean Brady is also taking part in the symposium. In 2010, Brady admitted that he had concealed the crimes of a serial rapist-priest from the authorities in mid-1970s. He rejected all calls to resign.
Earlier this week, the Irish Examiner reported on comments made by Father Ronat in Cloyne about a “deliberate vendetta” has been waged against him. He said that the victims have harassed him and that he has received “vulgar and distressing” texts and calls from women.
Ronat is set to appear before a canonical tribunal, where he may be defrocked. His victims have also reminded him that they have letters of apology from the diocese for the abuse they suffered. They described his recent complaints as “pathetic” and “hurtful”.
Eleven complaints were made to the police against the North Cork priest.
One victim, Fennella, said "Let him do whatever he wants to do. Let him question my letter of apology. I don’t have to paint myself as a victim and I have never painted myself as a victim."
Another victim described Father Ronat as "pathetic and clearly demented".
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.CaptainCon | Feb 10, 2012, 09:32 AM EST
'The best minds in the field' ... this bunch were claiming that the 196O's were to blame for their sheltering of hundreds of child molesters and rapists just a year back. They hired a sociologist to come out with that beauty in New York at a press conference where the said sociologist looked as if she wanted to be anywhere else on the planet rather than sat next to these loons. I haven't heard much about her since, unsurprisingly. Mind you, the Catholic Bishops of the US have plenty of psychological reports on the make-up of the clerical abusers which they paid for and definitely do not like the findings involved so won't talk about those reports at all. Bunch of moonhowling loons at best.
Gearoid4 | Feb 09, 2012, 04:03 PM EST
At least the Catholic Church under the present pope has taken this major initiative to gather the best minds in the fields which cover the treatment and study of the causes of child sex abuse, to progress long-lasting solutions to this scourge. This does not in anyway excuse lamentable past failures, but it demonstrates a clear willingness to learn lessons and to implement the best practices. If only other organizations which have dealings with children, would contemplate doing the same.
snakehips | Feb 09, 2012, 12:30 PM EST
Well, Levada is kissing his boss's arse, which is the typical Catholic Church pecking order behavior. Having said that, however, one has to take heart that this issue is being confronted whether "Holy Mother" wanted to confront it or not.This is inherently a forward looking thing. Also, keep all this in context. Yes the Church has child molestation problems and yes, it was sometimes institutionalized and covered up. I do believe, however, that pedophilia is a problem not only in The Catholic Church, but also in many institutions who have children in their care. This doesn't excuse the Church, but all you "Generic Catholic Haters" are making this a Catholic Church Problem only. Have you attacked this problem in all the other institutions or you just can't control your contempt of Roman Catholicism?
esatdigiwank | Feb 09, 2012, 12:01 PM EST
I wager this guy will be Rottweiler's successor; Rottweiler was also head propagandist of the CDF. An American pope is well overdue. Remember the name Levada..
RichardP | Feb 09, 2012, 11:01 AM EST
The only people who can change the Catholic church are it's parishioners. Until they vote with their feet and their wallets by staying away from mass and refusing to fund Parishes the Hierarchy will continue to carry on business as usual. Count on it - all critics of the Church will be condemned as evil people with an agenda to bring down the the 'only true Church' and will be condemned as anti-Christian heathens. This is an institution which sees it's primary responsibility as the survival of the Institution itself, not the principles of Christianity. It is a racist, sexist, misogynistic, bigoted institution with massive wealth, massively disproportionate power. It is utterly devoid of compassion for anyone, especially those it has hurt.
ciaradexy | Feb 09, 2012, 08:36 AM EST
Bring back paganism! At least they worshiped whats real unlike Christians!
merefalow | Feb 09, 2012, 06:28 AM EST
go back to our own pree christian religion,get rid of all the frock wearing mumbo jumbo chameleon heretic burning nazi apologist child molesting political manipulative misoginist history changing science denying useless money funnelling superstition spreading crowd.
mfinucane | Feb 09, 2012, 01:25 AM EST
i can not think of one reason to believe anything any of them say.if they say the sky is blue i'd go look for myself.
sirpeter | Feb 08, 2012, 10:06 PM EST
What the hell do ye all know.Don't be commenting on stuff ye don't know anything about.Their arrogance is a sign of there power.Religion is all powerful because none of ye have the guts to except who ye are.Grow up.The fairy tale is over.Those who are powerful will always rob you and if you don't keep an eye on your kids someone will always fu*k your kids.Such is life.
PhlutiePhan | Feb 08, 2012, 08:14 PM EST
The key here is the "magic man", Cardinal Dolan of New York. He will be installed within the month. Levada is from San Francisco and there are tales of how hesitant he was to take on the liberal lobby in that cesspool of humanity. Cardinal Dolan, I have confidence in. Cardinal Levada, I do not.
barneyjo | Feb 08, 2012, 06:19 PM EST
Well!!! what else would you expect him to say??. He is not going to endanger his chances for the "top job" next time around is he?
docmikey | Feb 08, 2012, 05:39 PM EST
Until they send Cardinal Law back to the U.S. to stand trial for all of his cover-up activity, the Vatican and Cardinal Leveda have no credibility.
helmet365 | Feb 08, 2012, 04:39 PM EST
More like 40,000 cases over the years. Is the Pope aware of two Victorian, Australian child abuses Fr Gerald Risdale and Bro Robert Best who police say are responsible for the deaths (suicides) of 26 young people as a result of pedopholia. Last weekend a Melbourne journalist Allan Howe says the real number is probably 35 and generally amounted to organised crime by the Catholic Church. calling for an enquiry.The jornalist Allan Howe made coments about a new book 'Hell on the way to heavin'a tragic storey of the horrific abuse of 2 girls abused by by a Fr O'Donnel in Melbourne.Its all on the net to read.
ciaradexy | Feb 08, 2012, 03:20 PM EST
I wonder how many people who were raped by paedophile priests would agree with this cardinal.
Gearoid4 | Feb 08, 2012, 02:50 PM EST
Cardinal Levada is factually correct, as the Church globally has done more under the current pope to combat the scourge of child sex-abuse within priestly ranks than all of the previous popes combined. He has considerably strengthened the effectiveness of canon law in relation to expediting cases against guilty predators and closed legal loopholes against them escaping justice. He has also met victims in a personal capacity during his pastoral visits abroad. Things are far from perfect but this symposium in Rome should mark another important landmark in the continuing efforts of the Church to get to grips with this terrible reality of the abuse of minors.
Nicomax | Feb 08, 2012, 02:09 PM EST
If church leaders could be shown that allowing women and married persons to become priests would actually strengthen the church and expand it's breadth and influence throughout the world, would they change their rules, even if that meant reducing their current domination? I doubt the current crop would have the courage to so. They would rather remain leaders of a declining institution.
jjkleprechaun | Feb 08, 2012, 02:07 PM EST
To Celtic Queen USA, you haven't??? Certain people in this USA congratulate the current president all the time for all the evil he and his cabinet are guilty of perpetrating against the American people. And FYI, many times Civil Records are sealed...look at Nobama's!!!...as well as Court cases. Be reasonable.
Murph46 | Feb 08, 2012, 01:54 PM EST
No congrats until ALL wrongdoers are PUNISHED!
patrickomalley | Feb 08, 2012, 01:50 PM EST
The Catholic church is still so dangerous for children, and if it was really God's church, God wouldn't have let this happen.
hybernia | Feb 08, 2012, 01:35 PM EST
He's got a neck like a jockey's boxxox. What planet does he live on? Or does he think we are all fools that we don't know what they have done, and what they tried to cover up. Below is the latest,google to get the full story. "550 sexual abuse claims filed against Milwaukee Archdiocese"
RockNReel | Feb 08, 2012, 01:17 PM EST
What planet do these people live on I wonder ? Praise for WHAT ??? Covering up for paedophile priests for years until eventually being FORCED to admit their guilt by People Pressure--not conscience. Moving Sicko's around the world to be allowed to rape more young innocent children ? And he wants praise for that???
ballindaggin | Feb 08, 2012, 12:38 PM EST
Child abuse is still going on in the church and it is still being covered up. The only thing that religion ever gave us from the start of time is wars, torture, abuse, and it's ongoing.People need to wake up and smell the incense, which is what they use to cover up the stink.
lokionline | Feb 08, 2012, 12:28 PM EST
Joelle Casteix of SNAP is right. If the Vatican wants to be seen as being serious about dealing with this issue then they will instruct all the bishops to work with secular authorities and release all files related to the cases the church is currently and actively defending in court as well as the files in the Vatican.
They will not be able to put the impression that they continue to cover up abuse, to bed, until they take this straight forward step.
rainbowbrew | Feb 08, 2012, 12:21 PM EST
Just another group of dress wearing liars. the pope was involved in this debacle from the get go adn he did nothing nada nothing except to facilitate teh abuse. You want me to thank him? Yes the revisionists are hard at work trying to convince the world it did not happen. You watch soon there was no problem. it is not jsut the RCC who do this just look at the USA politicians. Why is it that when people get in power they have to lie and cheat and hurt others?
lokionline | Feb 08, 2012, 12:19 PM EST
Credit should be given for the effort that has been made by the Vatican to address this.
But as is already apparent in the discussions they are having at this meeting, the concept of 'child-abuse' in many African and Asian cultures is not the same as it is in Europe and N. America.
The lid has hardly been lifted on the problems related to the power the catholic hierarchy wields in these patriarchal cultures.
Intercessor | Feb 08, 2012, 12:03 PM EST
To CelticQueenUSA! I agree with you, but the irony is that the Church always manages to rewrite history and come out smelling like a rose! In the Crusades, the Church slaughtered indigenous Christians, because "they all looked the same," as the other residents of the Holy Land. In the Inquisitions, She tortured her enemies (anyone who disagreed in any degree with Church doctrine), and often had them burned at the stake. Of course, Her hands were clean! She had monarchs do Her dirty work for Her after Her sainted bishops, cardinals and Inquisitors condemned legions of heretics to death. Then, we had "the forced conversions" of hundreds of thousands of Orthodox Catholics at gunpoint, knifepoint or bludgeon in Yugoslavia during WWII. This was done under the crozier of Archbishop Stepanic and the Fascist Head of State, Ante Pavelic. Then the biggest fiasco for the Church in WWII, the signing of Concordats with EVERY Fascist Regime on continent. The Priest Pedophilia Scandal will fair as well in the hindsight of history. It will simple be rewritten for all gullible believers.
Intercessor | Feb 08, 2012, 11:38 AM EST
Where does Cardinal Levada get his figures? "4000 cases??????? In his dreams! There were probably at least 4,000 cases in the USA and another 4,000 or more in Ireland! When Pope Benedict was head of the CDF, very few priests were ever removed from the priesthood, and Vatican instructions to bishops, archbishops, cardinals, etc..... made it very difficult not only to report molestation, rape and sodomy, but also to see the Church discipline Pedophile Priests. Now, we are told to congratulate the Pope! Well, I'm all for congratulating him in World Court, after he successfully shows the world how he didn't encourage the shuffling of Pedophile Priests from parish to parishm all over the planet!
CelticQueenUSA | Feb 08, 2012, 11:15 AM EST
Levada must be on Mars.
CelticQueenUSA | Feb 08, 2012, 11:13 AM EST
I have never heard of giving praise for fumbling and screwing up!