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  Pope to Say Sorry

Herald Sun
July 12, 2008

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24010928-5005961,00.html

POPE Benedict XVI has revealed he will use his visit to Australia to apologise for sexual abuse by priests and talk about how the Church can "prevent, heal and reconcile".

"We have to consider what was insufficient in our behaviour and how we can prevent, heal, reconcile. This is the essential content of what we will say as we apologise," Benedict said aboard his plane as he headed to Sydney to lead the Catholic Church's World Youth Day celebrations.

There has been growing speculation the Pope will apologise during his visit to Australian victims of abuse by the clergy, as he did earlier this year to American victims while on a US trip.

The issue of clergy abuse returned to the headlines this week over Sydney Archbishop George Pell's handling of sex abuse allegations.

ABC TV's Lateline program late on Monday night reported the archbishop had dismissed a claim of indecent assault against a priest who was later convicted of the crime.

Pell had dismissed the complaint against Father Terrence Goodall in 2003 after giving weight to the priest's claim the encounter was consensual.

The victim, Anthony Jones, consistently claimed otherwise, and in police wire tap evidence given to church investigators three years ago, Goodall admits to forcing himself on Jones.

Pell said this week that while he had no knowledge of the taped conversations, he would now seek legal advice on reopening the investigation.

Earlier, he admitted he was mistaken when he wrote to Jones in 2003 saying no one else had contacted the church with complaints about Goodall.

It has been revealed he wrote to another man the same day, stating a church investigation confirmed he was sexually abused by Goodall.

Meanwhile, support group Broken Rites held a vigil in Melbourne today calling on the church to apologise to sex abuse victims.

Spokeswoman Chris MacIsaac said: "We want him (the Pope) to know what this is all about, how serious the issue is in Australia and we want an apology that is meaningful."

Members of Broken Rites plan to visit Sydney to continue to call on the Pope to apologise, Ms MacIsaac said.

 
 

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