BOSTON (MA)
Boston Herald
Monday, May 26, 2014
By: Chris Cassidy
Pope Francis will meet with a group of clergy sex abuse victims next month at the Vatican as the pontiff declared “zero tolerance” for any priest who would violate a child.
“On this issue we must go forward, forward. Zero tolerance,” Francis said on his papal plane today while returning from Jerusalem.
The meeting with a half-dozen victims will mark the first such encounter for the new pope, who has been criticized by victims for not expressing personal solidarity with them.
Terrence Donilon, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, said Cardinal Sean O’Malley will help plan the meeting.
“The universal Church and the international community are blessed by Pope Francis continuing a leadership role in the response to the tragic events concerning the sexual abuse of minors by clergy. At this time the date of the meeting and other details have not been finalized. The Cardinal looks forward to supporting this effort by Pope Francis in whatever manner will be most helpful.”
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