Reuters, carried in Stuff
April 16, 2008
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4481786a12.html
Pope Benedict has arrived in Washington on his first papal visit to the United States, facing the sexual abuse scandal tarnishing the Roman Catholic Church's image here by declaring himself "deeply ashamed" even before he landed.
On his flight from Rome, the pope vowed to keep pedophiles out of the priesthood. The scandal of priests sexually abusing youths broke in 2002 and has forced US dioceses to pay over $US2 billion ($NZ2.56 billion) in damages. Five have gone bankrupt.
The six-day visit includes a United Nations address, masses in baseball stadiums and meetings with Catholic educators and leaders of other religions, but the German-born pope sent a signal that he would not avoid the scandal issue.
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| SHAME: Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by US President George W Bush as he arrives at the Andrews Air Force base outside Washington. The Pope has said he is 'deeply ashamed' over sexual abuse that shook the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Photo by Reuters |
"We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," Benedict told reporters on his flight. The Church will screen candidates for the priesthood, he said, "so that only really sound persons can be admitted."
"It is more important to have good priests than to have many priests," Benedict said.
President George W Bush greeted the pontiff on arrival at Andrews Air Force Base outside the capital, the first time he has gone to the airport to meet an incoming dignitary. Neither made a public statement, but onlookers sang "Happy Birthday" for Benedict, who turns 81 on Wednesday.
A Washington Post-ABC news poll published on Tuesday showed almost three-quarters of US Catholics approve of Pope Benedict but most find the Church out of touch with their views and criticize the way the sex abuse scandal was handled.
Half wanted the pope to stress traditional teachings and 45 percent preferred policies that "reflect the attitudes and lifestyles of modern Catholics."
Benedict said the sexual abuse scandal caused "great suffering" to the Church in the United States and also "for me personally."
"It's difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way their mission to give healing, to give the love of God to these children," he said.
Several victims of the pedophile priest scandal denounced Benedict's comments as insincere during a news conference in Boston, where the scandal erupted in 2002.
"He should be ashamed that he is not meeting with survivors and talking with us," said Robert Costello, founder of A Matter of Truth, a Boston-based organization for victims of sexual abuse by priests.
The pontiff was also to discuss the sensitive topic of immigration with Bush, especially the way it split families and strained "the moral and social fabric" of poor countries.
"The United States has to help these countries develop," he said on the flight, so their citizens do not feel the need to leave. "It is in the interest of everyone, not only these countries but of the world and particularly of the United States."
He also praised the role of faith in American public life as an example for more secularized Europe.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush and Benedict would probably discuss "their shared values of human rights and the importance of fighting extremism and also promoting religious tolerance" at the White House on Wednesday.
During his six-day trip, Benedict will pray at Ground Zero, the site in New York where the World Trade Center was destroyed on September 11, 2001.
The pope, who marks the third anniversary of his election during the trip, has said he hopes the visit will lead to a spiritual renewal in America. His UN address on Friday will aim to highlight the need for greater peace and justice around the world.
In New York, Benedict will also stop at a synagogue to wish the Jewish community a happy Passover.
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