BBC News
By Michael Hirst
BBC News
Pope Benedict XVI’s successor takes the helm at a difficult time for the Catholic Church.
In the West, the Church is struggling to fill pews as congregations dwindle, while the number of priests is also falling.
Meanwhile, the rise of evangelical Churches, especially in Latin America and Africa, is checking the growth of Catholic congregations, which are also threatened in some areas by religious intolerance. …
Sex abuse
Some feel the Catholic Church has failed to deal properly with child sex allegations
Benedict XVI has spoken of the Church’s shame for “unspeakable crimes” committed by paedophile priests, as well as offering heartfelt apologies to victims, groups of whom he has met during his trips overseas.
But many critics feel the Vatican was – and still is – far too slow, too reluctant and too secretive when it comes to acknowledging and investigating sexual abuse.
The new Pope will have the task of continuing to ensure perpetrators are held to account, and to ensure the changes introduced by Benedict XVI are implemented – particularly when it comes to bishops signing up to child protection guidelines.
David Clohessy, Executive Director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, told the BBC: “The next pontiff must do more to safeguard children.
“He should stop issuing apologies and making gestures, and instead demote bishops who continue to conceal heinous crimes.
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