NORTH CAROLINA
WSOC
By Tenikka Smith
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Pope Francis apologized to victims of sex abuse by clergy members.
The pope also asked for forgiveness that some church leaders did not adequately handle reports of sex abuse made by family members or victims themselves.
David Hains, spokesperson for the Diocese of Charlotte, said the pope’s message is a part of the church’s ongoing effort to be accountable and protect children.
“We’re very serious about preventing this issue from occurring. We’re very serious about making people aware children need our protection they are innocent,” Hains said.
The pope’s apology, comes days after a judge threw out a civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Charlotte from accusers who claim they were abused by Father Joseph Kelleher and Father Richard Farwell more than 30 years ago. The suit was thrown out because the statute of limitations ran out and the judge ruled it was too late to file the claim. A criminal case against Kelleher was also dismissed because the judge ruled the defendant was incompetent to proceed in a trial. Kelleher was accused of abusing a 14 year-old at a church in Albemarle in 1977.
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