UNITED STATES
Snopes.com
September 14, 2018
A disreputable web site chose to over-simplify and sensationalize a real homily delivered by the pope in September 2018.
CLAIM
In September 2018, Pope Francis said, in effect, that exposing pedophile priests is Satan’s work.
WHAT’S TRUE
In September 2018, Pope Francis said in a homily that “the Great Accuser” (a Biblical name for Satan) was working to “attack bishops” and “uncover their sins” so as to “scandalize the people.” Francis delivered the homily at a time when the Vatican hierarchy (including he himself) is facing multiple allegations of covering up sexual abuse.
WHAT’S FALSE
Pope Francis did not make a general pronouncement about efforts to expose child sexual abuse, but rather a much more ambiguous and enigmatic statement which left itself open to multiple interpretations.
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