IRELAND
Scotsman

Published on Monday 18 June 2012

Paedophile priests who abused those in their care undermined the credibility of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI has said.

In an address to almost 80,000 pilgrims in Dublin, he said the legacy of Irish Catholicism has been shaken by the clerical sexual abuse of children, adding it remained a mystery how clergy could commit such sins.

The Pope told the congregation attending the closing Mass of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress their forebears in the church in Ireland knew how to strive for holiness and constancy in their personal lives, and how to preach the joy that comes from the Gospel.