VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has begged forgiveness from the victims of clergy sex abuse in his first meeting with several abuse survivors.
The Vatican quoted Francis as expressing “sorrow” in his homily at a private Mass with six victims Monday for the “sins and grave crimes” of clerical sex abuse against them.
Added the pope: “I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of Church leaders who did not respond adequately” to sex abuse reports.
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APOLOGY TOUR!!! /gasp
Seriously, that was a classy move. I am very impressed with this guy and I am not at all religious. But he seems to follow his denomination’s book with words and actions, unlike many Christians here. I know what he said won’t erase their pain but I’m sure acknowledging the problem helps heal some. Good job.
So when will the pedos be turned over to the proper civil authorities?
He’s much different than the ‘Rat’ Pope (Ratzinger)…
His comments on the evils of pot…< meh > … easy to ignore. He’s into the ‘recreational’ drug strains of the Virgin Mary (sativa) or Jesus (indica) anyway…another kind of opiate, hallucinogenic, or mild sedative - depending on how you look at it.
Forgiveness is one thing, paying for your heinous crimes is another.
Once open admission like this happens there is no avoiding the reality of the crimes. Police and judges supposedly are held to a higher standard and priests are in the same boat/arc. They are in a position of trust and represent something much bigger than themselves. Defying that trust and committing the sickening crimes that they did is almost unforgivable. Throw in the lying and letting their victims hurt and we are at life sentences. That’s for the priests.
The Church itself is guilty as well and how can they ever explain allowing this and pretend to be righteous?
This Pope has it right and actually seems to be truly ignorant of the past but understanding of the pain. He is the leader of the church but not all of it. He must get the entire church in line and do what has to be done. The criminal priests and whomsoever was involved, including the cover up, must be punished.
The Catholic Church won’t get a pass on this shouldn’t.
But did he really say he was $$$orry?