Pope says abuse 'sinful' but does not say Bishops should resign

Larger Text

Print

E-mail

8 Comments

Tweet

IrishCentral.com Poll

What do you think about Pope Benedict's letter to the Irish Church?

It was a sincere apology that will help heal the Church

It was a sincere apology, but he side-stepped what concrete action the Church will take

It was just more of the same religious jargon, and doesn't change a thing

It was a letter from a morally corrupt man as guilty as the pedophile priests

Pope Benedict said Catholics should reflect on what he called 'Ireland's often heroic contribution' to the church and to humanity so that it would lead to honest self-examination and renewal.

Addressing priests and religious who had abused children, he said they had betrayed the trust placed in them by innocent young people and their parents.

He said: 'You must answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals.'

He urged abusers to examine their conscience and take responsibility for the sins they had committed. This would open the door to 'God's forgiveness'.

 Cardinal Sean Brady, primate of Ireland who has become embroiled in the issue himself after it was revealed he had not acted on evidence of child abuse in 1975 stated: "I welcome this letter. I am deeply grateful to the Holy Father for his profound kindness and concern.

“It is evident from the Pastoral Letter that Pope Benedict is deeply dismayed by what he refers to as 'sinful and criminal acts and the way the Church authorities in Ireland dealt with them.'”

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin described the letter as "a further step in the process of renewal and healing.”

He added: “I welcome the Pope's expression of apology and his recognition of the suffering and betrayal experienced by survivors.

'The Pope recognizes the failures of Church authorities in how they dealt with sinful and criminal acts.”

Print

E-mail

Tweet