Pope begs forgiveness for sexual abuse scandal - Polidicks

[quote] (Reuters) - Pope Benedict begged forgiveness from God and victims of child sexual abuse by priests on Friday and vowed that the Catholic Church would do everything in its power to ensure that it never happens again. World Benedict made his comments, some of his clearest ever about the scandal that has swept the Church around the world, during a homily in St Peter's Square to conclude the Roman Catholic Church's "Year of the Priest" celebrations. Wearing white and gold vestments as he spoke to some 15,000 priests, Benedict said the year that was to have celebrated the priesthood had been marred because "the sins of priests came to light, particularly the abuse of the little ones." "We too insistently beg forgiveness from God and from the persons involved, while promising to do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again," he said. Hundreds of cases of sexual and physical abuse of youths by priests in recent decades have come to light in Europe and the United States as investigations encourage long-silent victims to finally go public with their complaints. A group for victims said the pope had not gone far enough. "These are strong words but not strong actions," said Peter Isely of the U.S.-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), whose leaders came to Rome for the event. "The pope should have announced an absolute zero tolerance approach to priests that abuse around the world, ensuring that they will be immediately removed from priesthood. This is a much more important move than showing remorse," he told Reuters. Benedict himself has been accused of turning a blind eye in 1980, when he was archbishop of Munich in his native Germany, to the case of a priest who was sent there for therapy after sexually abusing children and soon transferred to parish work. The Vatican has said a subordinate took that decision. SCREENING CANDIDATES In his sermon, the 83-year-old pope, who met abuse victims in the United States, Australia and Malta and has decried "sin within the Church," also promised that the Church would enact stronger controls on choosing men who enter the priesthood. "We will do everything we can to weigh the authenticity of their vocation...," he said. Victim groups said they were also disappointed that the pope did not mention the responsibility of bishops, who have been accused of moving predator priests from parish to parish instead of defrocking them or turning them over to the law. "The pope can't put priests who commit such crimes in jail, and that is what the Church needs to address," Isely said. In his sermon, Benedict said the worldwide community of Catholic priests, numbering more than 400,000, should see the sexual abuse scandal and its repercussions as "a summons to purification" for themselves and for the entire Church. Five bishops in Europe have already resigned. One has admitted sexual abuse, another is under investigation and three have stepped down over their handling of abuse cases. The scandal has hit Catholic communities in the United States, Ireland, Belgium and Germany particularly hard. A poll two months ago in Germany showed that a majority of people had lost confidence in the Church and about a quarter of the country's Catholics are considering quitting. Child abuse scandals in the United States about eight years ago wreaked havoc on the reputation and finances of the U.S. Catholic Church, which paid some $2 billion in settlements and several dioceses declared bankruptcy.[/quote] [URL="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65A1IG20100611"]Source[/URL] FINALLY

cool

Seems a bit overdue

[quote=News]vowed that the Catholic Church would do everything in its power to ensure that it never happens again.[/quote] You mean cover it up so we don't know again?

oh shit, all it took was decades of sexual abuse and direct apathy towards the victims from him to make him say he's sorry maybe if he goes out and rapes a blind deaf girl on the balcony of his castle he might feel bad enough to actually do something

[b]You know what, this is a pretty dumb opinion of mine, but I'm not going to snip it.[/b] Wait, shit.

[QUOTE=DireAvenger;22530103]He's an obvious attention whore, as soon as everyone stops talking about him, he puts up another "News-worthy thing". For fucks sake, religion. Give it a break.[/QUOTE] It's not religion's fault.

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530126]It's not religion's fault.[/QUOTE] rate funny

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530126]It's not religion's fault.[/QUOTE] yes it is. the priests used religion to take advantage of the children.

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530126]It's not religion's fault.[/QUOTE] yeah no way that a dogmatic system of belief that puts certain men above the law in any way contributed to those men being above the law that's silly

GOD WILL SAVE YOU IF YOU LET ME TOUCH YOUR WILLYa!

[QUOTE=DireAvenger;22530103]He's an obvious attention whore, as soon as everyone stops talking about him, he puts up another "News-worthy thing".[/QUOTE] Uh yeah, that makes sense. Being quiet about it like he was all the time would have been easier. In my opinion he should either announce a zero tolerance policy for these people or get out.

[QUOTE=Mr. Scorpio;22530147]yeah no way that a dogmatic system of belief that puts certain men above the law in any way contributed to those men being above the law that's silly[/QUOTE] I'm not saying they had a right to do what they did, I'm just saying that this shouldn't be blamed in christianity, it's the god damn priests fault not the religion itself.

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530166]christianity[/QUOTE] this is the pope and catholics we are talking about.

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530166]I'm not saying they had a right to do what they did, I'm just saying that this shouldn't be blamed in christianity, it's the god damn priests fault not the religion itself.[/QUOTE] Because priests don't represent the religion. :downs: Plus it prevents the priests from having sex so yeah, fuck christianity.

[QUOTE=Sickle;22530192]Because priests don't represent the religion. :downs: Plus it prevents the priests from having sex so yeah, fuck christianity.[/QUOTE] That's what they are supposed to do, yes, but they didn't. Sexually abusing children has nothing to do with religion, I highly doubt these priests actually belive in god. [editline]12:09PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Sparkwire;22530173]this is the pope and catholics we are talking about.[/QUOTE] What?

Just a question: The pope is somehow responsible for the sins his fellow pastoers etc' commited?

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530205]That's what they are supposed to do, yes, but they didn't. Sexually abusing children has nothing to do with religion, I highly doubt these priests actually belive in god. [editline]12:09PM[/editline] What?[/QUOTE] read the title.

Damn Pope. I'm sick of hearing about him. I'm surprised some maddened vigilante hasn't tried to blow his head off yet.

[QUOTE=Sparkwire;22530230]read the title.[/QUOTE] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#Catholic[/url]

[QUOTE=smartdog;22530220]Just a question: The pope is somehow responsible for the sins his fellow pastoers etc' commited?[/QUOTE] Somebody didn't follow the subject. The problem is, that the church does not do anything against them. It gets covered up and the priests get transferred somewhere else, where they continue. Thats why people say he is responsible for it.

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530205]That's what they are supposed to do, yes, but they didn't. Sexually abusing children has nothing to do with religion, [B]I highly doubt these priests actually belive in god.[/B] [editline]12:09PM[/editline] What?[/QUOTE] If they don't they are highly smart.

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530253][URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#Catholic[/URL][/QUOTE] okay, i was wrong. But still, this is partly religions fault, as it prevented the molesters from getting charged and covered over their acts.

[QUOTE=Sickle;22530273]If they don't they are highly smart.[/QUOTE] Smart, clever, evil? Yes it is. People have been abusing christ- any religion for thousands of years, if not more. But for gods sake, people have been abusing all kinds of positions, polices, presidents, soldiers.

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;22530309]Smart, clever, evil? Yes it is. People have been abusing christ- any religion for thousands of years, if not more. But for gods sake, people have been abusing all kinds of positions, polices, presidents, soldiers.[/QUOTE] They take advantage of anyone stupid enough to believe a deity will save them from death.

[QUOTE=smartdog;22530220]Just a question: The pope is somehow responsible for the sins his fellow pastoers etc' commited?[/QUOTE] He is when he's directly involved in covering up the crimes.

Because forgiveness is gonna make a goddamn difference.

yea fuck religion!!!!

I prefer the Catholic church over islam anyday, at least the Catholics try to hide their child abuse.

[QUOTE=Arrows;22531169]I prefer the Catholic church over islam anyday, at least the Catholics try to hide their child abuse.[/QUOTE] Uh wow. Great comment. Because hiding child abuse is something we should encourage.