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  Cardinal O'Malley Defends Pope on Abuse

By Lisa Wangsness
Boston Globe
April 2, 2010

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/04/cardinal_omalle_4.html

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston today defended Pope Benedict XVI's handling of abuse cases prior to his papacy, writing in a post on his blog that "confusion and misinformation" in the media has obscured the pope's effectiveness in dealing with the issue of sex abuse of children by clergy.

Benedict has been under fire for his handling of two abuse cases prior to his papacy, when he was a bishop and then a cardinal known by his given name, Joseph Ratzinger. In Germany, where Benedict had been the archbishop of Munich, he has been criticized for his oversight of an abusive priest, and in Rome, where Benedict previously oversaw the process for defrocking abusive priests, he has been criticized for his agency's decision not to defrock a priest from Wisconsin who had allegedly abused some 200 deaf boys decades earlier.

The controversy has swelled over the course of Holy Week, the most sacred week in the church calendar.

"What is very clear to me -- and I think to all who are fair-minded -- is that Cardinal Ratzinger and later Pope Benedict has been dedicated to eradicating sexual abuse in the Church and trying to rectify the mistakes of the past," O'Malley blogged.

O'Malley said that when American bishops tried to institute new policies to protect children and reconcile with victims, the pope -- then prefect of the Vatican's Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith -- was "the strongest ally we had in this effort." Ratzinger allowed the American bishops to move forward with new policies, including a zero tolerance policy for abusers and prevention training for priests and others working with children in the church, O'Malley said.

O'Malley also said that the pope was "visibly moved" when presented a book inscribed with 1,500 names of American abuse victims during a 2008 visit to the US -- a presentation that O'Malley oversaw during a private meeting between the pope and victims.

Both European and US bishops are rushing to defend Pope Benedict this week. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement Tuesday expressing concern for the victims and shame for the church's role in injuring them.

"Pope Benedict heard firsthand how sexual abuse has devastated lives," the bishops' conference said in the statement. "The Holy Father spoke with each person and provided every one time to speak freely to him. They shared their painful experiences and he listened, often clasping their hands and responding tenderly and reassuringly."

 
 

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