Radio Netherlands
April 4, 2010
http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/pope%E2%80%99s-preacher-apologises-comments
VATICAN CITY -- The pope's preacher has apologised for hurting the feelings of Jews and victims of sexual abuse in his Good Friday address.
The apology of Father Raniero Cantalamessa was published in the Sunday edition of Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
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| Father Raniero Cantalamessa |
The Preacher to the Papal Household quoted comments made to him in a letter during the address in Pope Benedict XVI's presence. He said, "The stereotyping, the transfer of personal responsibility and blame to a collective blame reminds me of the most shameful aspects of anti-Semitism."
Jewish leaders and organisations across the world were outraged by the comparison of the current scandal to the persecution of Jews.
The Vatican's spokesperson said on Saturday that the preacher's comments did not reflect the view of the Roman Catholic church.
The Preacher to the Papal Household is a position which was introduced by Pope Paul IV in 1555, in the Catholic tradition he is the only person allowed to preach while the pope listens.
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