Pope Church Must Address Heinous Crime of Paedophilia, Ireland Online, February 16, 2010

Pope: Church Must Address 'Heinous Crime' of Paedophilia

Ireland Online
February 16, 2010

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/pope-church-must-address-heinous-crime-of-paedophilia-446418.html

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI today branded the sexual abuse of children and young people a "heinous crime" and a "grave sin".

At the end of an unprecedented two-day Vatican summit with Irish bishops, the Pontiff said the the clergy should face the present crisis with honesty and courage.

The 24 senior clergy were summonsed over the past mishandling of child abuse scandals that rocked the Catholic church in Ireland.

In a statement, the Vatican said: "For his part, the Holy Father observed that the sexual abuse of children and young people is not only a heinous crime, but also a grave sin which offends God and wounds the dignity of the human person created in his image.

"While realising that the current painful situation will not be resolved quickly, he challenged the Bishops to address the problems of the past with determination and resolve, and to face the present crisis with honesty and courage.

"He also expressed the hope that the present meeting would help to unify the Bishops and enable them to speak with one voice in identifying concrete steps aimed at bringing healing to those who had been abused, encouraging a renewal of faith in Christ and restoring the Church's spiritual and moral credibility."

The diocesan bishops were hauled before Pope Benedict and his most senior aides in the wake of the sickening abuse revelations contained in the Ryan and Murphy reports.

The Vatican said the senior clergy spoke frankly of the sense of pain and anger, betrayal, scandal and shame expressed by those who had been abused and the feeling of outrage reflected by the religious.

Rome also revealed the bishops had an opportunity to examine and discuss a draft of the Pastoral Letter which the Pope has penned to the Catholics of Ireland.

"His Holiness will now complete his letter, which will be issued during the coming season of Lent," the statement said.

Rome said the Holy Father also pointed to the more general crisis of faith affecting the Church and he linked that to the lack of respect for the human person, and how the weakening of faith has been a significant contributing factor in the phenomenon of the sexual abuse of minors.

"He stressed the need for a deeper theological reflection on the whole issue, and called for an improved human, spiritual, academic and pastoral preparation both of candidates for the priesthood and religious life and of those already ordained and professed," the statement continued.

Pope Benedict also asked the clergy that this Lent be set aside as a time for imploring an outpouring of God's mercy and the Holy Spirit's gifts of holiness and strength upon the Church in Ireland.