Pope Benedict says good outweighs 'bad seeds' in Catholic Church

Published on Sunday 16 May 2010 00:33

POPE Benedict XVI claimed the "bad seeds" among clergy did not obscure the good works of the Catholic Church.

Making a clear reference to sex abuse scandals involving clergy, he said yesterday that recent events could "rob the Church of its joy and reputation as a place of hope".

But citing the gospel parable of bad seeds causing weeds to sprout among the good seeds – an analogy for the paedophilia scandal tainting the priesthood – the Pope said the good of the Church would not be eliminated by evil.

There has been a wave of allegations that Church authorities in Europe, including the Pope's German homeland, and North and South America failed to deal properly with priests accused of sexually abusing children.

The Pope himself has been accused of not taking strong enough steps against paedophiles when he had that responsibility as a cardinal in the Roman Curia.

However, his supporters say he has been the most proactive Pope. Last month the Vatican made it clear the policy of zero tolerance of sexual abuse of minors by clergy, adopted in the US and in England and Wales, would now be applicable worldwide.