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  Catholic Church Braces for Another Scandal

Macau News.Net

July 16, 2008

http://www.macaunews.net/story/382849

The pope is running into a full-blown scandal in Australia, where he is visiting Sydney for the world's biggest Christian festival.

200,000 young pilgrims are attending concerts and religious festivals in Australia for World Youth Day celebrations.

At the beginning of his visit, the scandal over child sex abuse by Catholic priests has flared again, with Pope Benedict XVI likely to be confronted by the parents of the child-sex victims of Catholic priests.

The scandal has partly overshadowed the festival, despite the pope's pledge to apologise to victims as he did in the United States in April.

The father of two girls abused by a Melbourne priest has said he and his wife will travel back to Australia from Europe within the next few days for a confrontation.

Anthony Foster told the ABC News he would not accept an apology unless the pontiff also changed the way the church and its lawyers dealt with victims of sex abuse.

Mr Foster has said he will make a public statement when he arrives in Australia and will demand a response from the pope and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Australia, Cardinal George Pell.

Mr Foster's daughter Emma committed suicide this year aged 26, after struggling to deal with abuse she received from a priest while still in primary school.

Her sister was also abused and turned to alcohol in her teens before being left brain-damaged after being hit by a car.

One hundred and seven Catholic priests and religious brothers have been sentenced in Australian courts on sex charges.

 
 

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