Pope 'sorry' for child abuse by Australian clergy

Published on Saturday 19 July 2008 19:36

POPE Benedict XVI yesterday said he was "deeply sorry" about child sex abuse by Roman Catholic clergy in Australia, describing their acts as evil and a grave betrayal of trust that has disgraced the church.

"I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy... in this country," Benedict told Australian bishops and other seminarians at a mass. "I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them as their pastor that I too share in their suffering.

"Those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice."

Benedict has expressed regret before about the abuse scandal that has rocked the church in recent years, notably during a visit to the US in April when he also met privately with a small number of victims.

But the language of Saturday's apology was stronger than the Pope's comments in the United States.

Vatican spokesman the Rev Federico Lombardi said the Pope changed the original text, adding the words that he was deeply sorry because he wanted to "personally underline" that he felt close to the victims.

Victim support groups wanted more – a commitment to stop what they allege is the ongoing cover-up of the scale of the problem and for the church to stop fighting compensation claims in the courts.

"It is just a drop in a bucket – a bucket full of tears that all of us who work with victims have been sitting with for 25 to 30 years in Australia," said Helen Last from the victims' group In Good Faith and Associates.

Anthony Foster, the father of two Australian girls who were allegedly raped by a Catholic priest as children, has been publicly seeking a meeting with Benedict during his visit. He said senior Church officials had repeatedly apologised but offered no practical assistance to victims. "What we haven't had is an unequivocal, unlimited practical response that provides for all the victims for their lifetime," Foster said, adding that the response "needs to include both financial help and psychological help".

Support groups say victims of church abuse in Australia number in the thousands. The group Broken Rites has documented more than 100 cases in which clergy of all Christian denominations have been sentenced for abuse crimes.

The Pontiff is in Australia to lead hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in the church's World Youth Day, a global celebration meant to inspire a new generation of Catholics. One pilgrim, Daniel Bidinger, 25, of Schoden, Germany, said: "I think it's a good gesture, but the person who is responsible for these actions should be made responsible for their own actions. The Church should be open about it and shouldn't cover up these incidents."

Of the abuse, Benedict said: "These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain, they have damaged the church's witness."

Meanwhile, more than 500 activists faced off against happy pilgrims yesterday, shouting their distaste at the Vatican opposition to abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

Inflated prophylactics floated above the crowd as demonstrators – some dressed as nuns, devils and priests – chanted: "The Pope is wrong, put a condom on!"

The young Roman Catholics responded with their own singsong chant: "Benedicto – we love you!"

The two crowds became angry at one point and police led away a protester who had been throwing condoms toward pilgrims.