SANTIAGO (CHILE)
The Associated Press
August 7, 2018
Pope Francis has praised Chilean bishops for reflecting on their failure to listen to victims of clerical sex abuse.
The pontiff said in a letter to the Chilean church’s Episcopal Conference that he is “impressed by the reflection, discernment and decisions” taken by bishops when they met last week.
“May the Lord reward you abundantly for this communal and pastoral effort,” the pope said in the letter, which is dated Aug. 5. “The decisions (of the bishops) are realistic and concrete. I’m sure that they will decidedly help on this process.”
Earlier this year, Francis publicly denounced a “culture of abuse and cover-up” in Chile’s Catholic Church. He also said he was ashamed that neither he nor Chilean church leaders truly ever listened to victims as Chile’s abuse scandal spread.
In May, 31 bishops offered their resignation to the pope. So far Francis has accepted the resignations of five.
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