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	Pope Struggles to Contain Sex Abuse Scandal By Guy Dinmore Financial Times March 18, 2010 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f850a504-322c-11df-b4e2-00144feabdc0.html EUROPE -- Pope Benedict XVI was fighting yesterday to contain the disastrous fallout for the Vatican from the spreading sexual abuse scandal involving priests across Europe. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, stepped into the debate by demanding "truth and clarity" and suggesting compensation for victims. Speaking at his weekly audience in St Peter's Square, the pontiff said he would sign his long-awaited pastoral letter tomorrow to the Irish faithful on paedophilia. This is in response to last November's Murphy report by the Irish government, which accused the Church in Ireland of having "obsessively" concealed numerous cases of child abuse by priests. The Pope said he hoped the unprecedented letter would help bring "repentance, healing and renewal". It remains to be seen whether the Vatican will make concrete proposals in response to the crisis.
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