Pope meets with Irish bishops, plans measures to respond to abuse
Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican City, Dec 11, 2009 / 10:55 am (CNA).- Pope Benedict XVI and high-ranking members or the Roman Curia met with two members of the Irish bishops’ conference in the papal library on Friday to listen to their concerns and discuss the issue of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Pope was admittedly “deeply disturbed and distressed” by the contents of the Murphy Report released on Nov. 29 and expressed his commitment to investigating the matter further.
Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, Northern Ireland, and Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin met for 90 minutes with Vatican representatives, including Secretaries of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. Also present were Cardinal Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Cardinal Re, Cardinal Ballestrero, Cardinals Wells and the Irish Nuncio.
In a press communiqué delivered to the press by Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Holy Father responded that he “wishes once more to express his profound regret at the actions of some members of the clergy who have betrayed their solemn promises to God, as well as the trust placed in them by the victims and their families, and by society at large.”
The meeting with the Pontiff comes two days after the Irish bishops’ conference issued a public apology for the abuse committed by some members of the Irish Catholic clergy over the last three decades. In part, their statement said, “This should never have happened and must never be allowed to happen again. We humbly ask for forgiveness.”
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See also:
From Catholic World News, "Outraged by Dublin revelations, Pope plans pastoral letter on abuse scandal"
From Catholic News Service, "Vatican says pope outraged by sex abuse in Ireland"
From Zenit, "Pope to Write Letter to Irish on Abuse Scandal"
From Times Online, "Pope tells Irish bishops he was 'disturbed and distressed' by Murphy report"
From Canada.com, "Child abuse crisis to spark Irish Church shakeup"
posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 12:04 PM
1 Comments:
Do you all really believe that a "shake-up" will solve anything? The RCC is a disturbed institution and, as an institution deserves to die. Maybe now the Irish will decide to do what we Americans are int he process of doing - reclaiming our Church. Laity run parishes and we decide when and which priest says Mass. He is only a convenor for the sacraments. And if a parish is really lucky, the have a woman priest.
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