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  Victim Not Convinced about Pope's Apology

NZCity

July 21, 2008

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=87892&fm=newsmain,nrhl

Wairarapa woman abused by a priest in 1970s says Pope's apology to victims of sexual abuse by clergy too little, too late

A woman who was sexually abused by a priest doubts the Pope's apology will do any good.

As part of World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney, Pope Benedict apologised to Australian victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy.

Wairarapa woman Ann-Marie Shelley was abused by a priest while she was a student at Lower Hutt's Sacred Heart College in the 1970s and eventually received an apology and compensation from the Catholic Church. She says the Pope's apology was far too little, far too late, as the church took no action on allegations against the clergy for many years.

She believes the apology was delivered with little sincerity and that Benedict did not appear to be speaking from the heart, but more as if it was something he knew he had to do.

The Pope is due to fly out of Sydney to Rome on a charter plane this morning. One of his last duties will be stop at The Domain in central Sydney to thank volunteers who during World Youth Day.

He will be farewelled at the airport by government and church officials.

 
 

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