VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter
Apr 26, 2018
by Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis’ planned meeting with abuse survivors from Chile could mark a turning point in how the Catholic Church deals not just with prevention, but especially with how it responds to accusations.
The pope has said he wants the four days of meetings in April to be his chance to ask for forgiveness and express his “pain and shame” for what they have suffered.
And Pope Francis, who emphasizes the importance of listening and learning, also sees this as a chance to hear survivors’ suggestions for how to avoid repeating “such reprehensible acts,” the Vatican said April 25.
But this meeting is different from his other meetings with survivors. This time he is not only acknowledging and apologizing for abuses perpetrated by others, he himself caused shock and pain when he repeatedly discounted claims there was evidence Chilean Bishop Juan Barros knew of abuse against minors. Pope Francis went so far as to label such claims as “calumny” in remarks to reporters in January.
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