AUSTRALIA
The Guardian (UK)
Australian Associated Press
theguardian.com, Thursday 27 March 2014
Cardinal George Pell has used his farewell sermon to offer a frank apology to victims of sexual abuse by “priests, religious leaders and others” within the Catholic church.
The apology, delivered from the pulpit of St Mary’s cathedral in Sydney, was dismissed by a small group of protesters, including an alleged victim of church sexual abuse, who were barred from the service and stood outside.
“I apologise once again to the victims and their families for the terrible suffering that has been brought to bear by these crimes,” Pell told a mass of thanksgiving on Thursday night.
Speaking to a congregation of several hundred people, Pell acknowledged that child sexual abuse within the Catholic church had caused a “terrible blight”.
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