Pope Francis reversed decisions to kick paedophiles out of the priesthood

By Charles White
Metro (UK)
February 26, 2017

http://metro.co.uk/2017/02/26/pope-francis-reversed-decisions-to-kick-paedophiles-out-of-the-priesthood-6473481/

The Pope has made some controversial decisions while leading the Catholic church Photo by Pierpaolo Scavuzzo

Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley the head of a sex abuse advisory commission Photo by Franco Origlia

Pope Francis with the head of a sex abuse advisory commission, Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley Photo by Andrew Medichini

The Pope has long pledged to create a more ‘merciful’ church Photo by FILIPPO MONTE

Pope Francis has reduced punishments for paedophile priests who abused children as young as 12.

The leader of the world’s biggest faith wants to apply his vision of a ‘merciful’ church and has changed the punishments for a handful of priests.

Italian priest Mauro Inzoli had been sentenced to be ‘defrocked’ (removed from the priesthood) in 2012, but Pope Francis reversed the decision in 2014, telling him instead to stop public ministry and do penance and pray for the rest of his life.

The Inzoli case is said to be one of several similar cases when harsher sentences had been recommended by the Pope’s own advisory council on this issue, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Inzoli was later convicted by an Italian court for sex abuse crimes against five children. He now faces a second church trial.

Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI who resigned to join a monastery, rarely showed mercy in cases such as this and defrocked 800 priests.

Inzoli was shown clemency and in a statement Bishop Cantoni said: ‘No misery is so profound, no sin so terrible that mercy cannot be applied.’

Abuse victims have said they are not satisfied with this. An Irish abuse survivor, Marie Collins, founding member of Francis’ sex-abuse advisory commission spoke out.

In an email she wrote: ‘All who abuse have made a conscious decision to do so. Even those who are paedophiles, experts will tell you, are still responsible for their actions. They can resist their inclinations.’

A church insider said of the South American pontiff: ‘With all this emphasis on mercy … he is creating the environment for such initiatives.’

Francis has repeatedly tried to push for a ‘merciful’ church and one that forgives divorced couples, among others. Officials have said that even ‘heinous crimes’ should be forgiven.

Greg Burke, a Vatican spokesman, said: ‘The Holy Father understands that many victims and survivors can find any sign of mercy in this area difficult. But he knows that the Gospel message of mercy is ultimately a source of powerful healing and of grace.’

Yet abuse survivor Collins said: ‘While mercy is important, justice for all parties is equally important.

‘If there is seen to be any weakness about proper penalties, then it might well send the wrong message to those who would abuse.’