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Pope Francis asks forgiveness for child abuse by clergy

File photo: Pope Francis touches his forehead after delivering his message during the general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, 9 April 2014 Pope Francis said he felt "compelled" to personally take on the evil which some priests had committed. Photo: BBC NEWS
BBC NEWS

Pope Francis has asked for forgiveness for the "evil" damage to children caused by sexual abusers in the clergy.

In quotes carried by Vatican Radio, he described the abuse as a "moral damage carried out by men of the Church", and said "sanctions" would be imposed.

It is being described as his strongest statement on the issue so far.

Last month, Pope Francis strongly defended the Roman Catholic Church's record on tackling sexual abuse by priests, following UN criticism. 

The Pope set up a committee last year to organise help for victims of clerical sexual abuse but has been accused by some Catholics of dragging his feet in acknowledging the extent of the moral and mental damage caused by paedophile priests, the BBC's David Willey reports from Rome.

'Sanctions'

Pope Francis made the statement on Friday, during a meeting with a Catholic children's non-governmental organisation, the Vatican Radio website reports.

He said he had felt compelled to "personally ask for forgiveness for the damage [some priests] have done for having sexually abused children".

He said that the number of priests who had committed abuses were "quite a few in number", although "obviously not compared to the number of all the priests".

Catholic Church abuse scandals

  • Germany - A priest, named only as Andreas L, admitted in 2012 to 280 counts of sexual abuse involving three boys over a decade
  • United States - Revelations about abuses in the 1990s by two Boston priests, Paul Shanley and John Geoghan, caused public outrage
  • Belgium - The bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned in April 2010 after admitting that he had sexually abused a boy for years
  • Italy - The Catholic Church in Italy admitted in 2010 that about 100 cases of paedophile priests had been reported over 10 years
  • Ireland - A report in 2009 found that sexual and psychological abuse was "endemic" in Catholic-run industrial schools and orphanages for most of the 20th century

"We will not take one step backward with regards to how we will deal with this problem, and the sanctions that must be imposed," he said, adding: "We have to be even stronger".

In an interview last month, Pope Francis defended the Catholic Church, saying: "No-one else has done more [to tackle child sexual abuse]. Yet the Church is the only one to have been attacked."

It came after a UN report accused the Vatican of systematically placing the "preservation of the reputation of the Church and the alleged offender over the protection of child victims" - something the Church has strenuously denied.

The Catholic Church has faced numerous allegations of child sex abuse by priests around the world and criticism over inadequate responses by bishops.

Earlier this year Pope Francis strengthened Vatican laws on child abuse, broadening the definition of crimes against minors to include sexual abuse of children.

While in office, predecessor Pope Benedict XVI apologised to victims of child sex abuse, saying he was "truly sorry" for the "sinful and criminal actions" committed by priests.

5 Responses to “Pope Francis asks forgiveness for child abuse by clergy”

  • Irucy (11/04/2014, 11:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    All criminal acts committed by priests must face the court like any other one sorry cant help. Fire pan Rome
  • Irucy (11/04/2014, 12:36) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thank you Virgin Islands for free speech you are advanced... Many Caribbean news paper comments don't allow us the freedom to express what we are thinking in words. BIG UP VIRGIN ISLANDS Hope the others can learn from your lead THANK YOU
  • carolineredbrook (12/04/2014, 00:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Until the Pope backs up his "pleas for forgiveness" with energetic action against the perpetrators his words will continue to ring hollow as crimes against children are so heinous that accused pedophiles like priests, Sylvain Kustyan, Jerry Sandusky, etc. must be apprehended before they have years to continue to destroy young lives. Sandusky is now safely behind bars. But unfortunately, Kustyan, who has been formally charged with two counts each of 1st Degree Sodomy and Sexual Abuse of a ten-year-old little boy, fled to avoid imminent arrest. Kustyan, formerly of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Hermin/ Mazingarbe, France, as an English teacher, has led numerous groups of schoolchildren on trips to the US, the UK and Ireland.. Pedophiles condemn their victims to a lifetime of emotional and psychological trauma and often permanent physical ailments as well. Since the average pedophile has 300 different victims in their lifetime and since the recidivism rate among pedophiles is virtually 100% and since there is no effective treatment and no known cure they must be stopped ASAP!
    • Irucy (12/04/2014, 08:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Very well written @ carolineredbrook the truth is an offence but not a sin RIDE ON
  • cay (12/04/2014, 12:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    and this thing still going on


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