Pope will write letter to Irish Catholics on abuse
Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:44 am
VATICAN CITY -Pope Benedict XVI is deeply disturbed by a child sex-abuse scandal in Ireland and will write a letter to Catholics there on the church's response, the Vatican said Friday.
Benedict met at the Vatican with senior Irish clergy to discuss a possible response to a devastating report issued last week in Dublin, which found that the church shielded more than 100 child-abusing priests from the law.
A Vatican statement released after the 90-minute talks said the pope studied the report carefully and expressed his "profound regret."
"He was deeply disturbed and distressed by its contents," the statement said. "The Holy Father shares the outrage, betrayal and shame felt by so many of the faithful in Ireland."
Attending the talks at the Vatican were Irish Cardinal Sean Brady, Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the Vatican's representative to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza.
The report found that church leaders in the Dublin Archdiocese failed to inform authorities about sexual abuse by priests, while police failed to pursue allegations under the belief that church figures were above the law.
Story Link: Pope will write letter to Irish Catholics on abuse
Benedict met at the Vatican with senior Irish clergy to discuss a possible response to a devastating report issued last week in Dublin, which found that the church shielded more than 100 child-abusing priests from the law.
A Vatican statement released after the 90-minute talks said the pope studied the report carefully and expressed his "profound regret."
"He was deeply disturbed and distressed by its contents," the statement said. "The Holy Father shares the outrage, betrayal and shame felt by so many of the faithful in Ireland."
Attending the talks at the Vatican were Irish Cardinal Sean Brady, Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the Vatican's representative to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza.
The report found that church leaders in the Dublin Archdiocese failed to inform authorities about sexual abuse by priests, while police failed to pursue allegations under the belief that church figures were above the law.
Story Link: Pope will write letter to Irish Catholics on abuse