ROME
Telegraph (UK)
By Nick Squires, Rome 08 Oct 2015
Pope Francis has angered groups protesting against clerical sex abuse by calling them “dumb”, raising doubts about his commitment to tackling an issue that has shattered trust in the Catholic Church worldwide.
The Pope made the remarks during an audience in St Peter’s Square, directing them at a group of Catholics from the city of Osorno in Chile who have held protests against a local bishop accused of complicity in a sex abuse scandal.
“The Osorno community is suffering because it’s dumb … It has let its head be filled with what politicians say, judging a bishop without any proof,” the South American pontiff said.
“Don’t be led by the nose by the Leftists who orchestrated all of this.” He made the remarks in May but they have only just emerged.
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