Global General
Papal letter fails to calm anger over Irish abuses
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-21 11:45
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"GRAVE ERRORS OF JUDGMENT"
Benedict singled out Irish bishops for sharp criticism over their handling of abuse and paedophilia cases in the past.
"It must be admitted that grave errors of judgment were made and failures of leadership occurred. All this has seriously undermined your credibility and effectiveness," he told them.
"Only decisive action carried out with complete honesty and transparency will restore the respect and goodwill of the Irish people towards the Church," the pope said.
The letter follows the damning Irish government report on widespread child abuse by priests in the Dublin archdiocese between 1975 and 2004. The report said the Church in Ireland had "obsessively" concealed the abuse.
In recent weeks, the Vatican has tried to contain damage as the string of scandals over sexual abuse of children by priests spread across Europe.
The latest scandal in Germany is especially sensitive for German-born Benedict, Munich's bishop from 1977 to 1981.
With opinion in Germany enraged as more cases emerged, the vice president of the Bundestag lower house, Wolfgang Thierse, called for him to apologise on behalf of those responsible.
Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, head of the German Bishops' Conference, said the letter was also an "admonition" to bishops in Germany, where more than 100 reports have emerged of abuse at Catholic institutions, including one linked to the prestigious Regensburg choir run by the pope's brother from 1964 to 1994.
Abuse cases have also been reported in the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, France and Poland.
Switzerland became the latest country to become embroiled when the Swiss Catholic Church said on Saturday it was investigating around 10 allegations of abuse by clergy, including some acts committed since 2001.
Child abuse scandals in the United States about eight years ago wreaked havoc on the reputation and finances of the US Catholic Church, which paid some $2 billion in settlements.
Voice of the Faithful, a reform group set up in 2002 in response to abuse cases in Boston, said the pope's letter incorrectly suggested that abuse was confined to Ireland when in fact "it is a Catholic problem and must be fixed."
"I had high hopes for this pastoral letter," said Dan Bartley, the group's president. "I see now the Church still refuses to hold accountable bishops who endanger children."
