Vatican spokesman says sexual abuse not just Catholic problem

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Comments: 7

Vatican City, Jul 17, 2007 / 10:52 am (CNA).- Sexual abuse of children is not just a Catholic Church problem and other institutions should take steps to acknowledge and deal with such "wickedness" within their own ranks, the chief spokesman for the Vatican said today.

Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, said in an interview with Vatican Radio that the record $660 million settlement between the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and victims of sexual abuse was an attempt to "close a painful chapter and look forward".

"The Church is above all clearly pained by the suffering of the victims and their families, by the deep wounds caused by the grave and inexcusable behavior of some of its members," Lombardi said.

"It has decided to commit itself in every way to avoid a repetition of such wickedness," he said, adding that the Church now had a "a policy of prevention and creation of an ever more secure atmosphere for children and young people in all aspects of (its) pastoral programs".

Fr. Lombardi, also drew attention to the fact that other institutions should deal with the problem of pedophilia as openly as the Catholic Church has.

"The problem of the abuse of childhood and its adequate protection certainly does not regard only the (Catholic) Church, but also many other institutions and it is right that these take the necessary decisions as well," he said.

Lombardi also mentioned that the Church is conscious of her educational responsibilities to young people and that she intends to be "a protagonist in the struggle against pedophilia", which he said was on the rise worldwide.

Comments: 7

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Dansero
sf,calif.,usa 07/21/2007 02:11 AM EST

Most of the scandal involves the abuse of young boys. Therefore, the Church has a problem with priests who are either pediophies or homosexual. This was clearly brought out in the "unbiased" report that the church paid for. As a result, the Pope has ordered all seminaries to restructure their guidelines. No homosexuals should be permitted to enter the seminaries. A completely thorough examination of any candidates for the priesthood should leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding out anything and everything about the person's background, friends, education, etc. The formation of future priests should be centered upon holiness and truth and a prayerful lifestyle. I look upon this explosive situation of the "scandals in the church" as God's way of telling us "Enough!" Now for the purification to begin. God help the Church.

Dansero

Published by: M. Lyons
Perth ,Western Australia 07/19/2007 09:41 AM EST

Sadly, many priests, nuns and other members of the Church have sinned rather seriously. It is good to see the Church trying to come to grips with child abuse. Unfortunately, very little seems to be done by politicians and others to address this problem which is much more prevelant in the general community. I agree with Father Lombardi. The Church needs to be "a protagonist in the struggle against pedophilia."

Published by: msc
canada 07/18/2007 03:53 PM EST

I am relieved to see the Chruch acknowledge its sins. It seems consistent that institutions that are mainly patriarchial are prone to child abuse, for example the Jehovah Witness's organization which has only received marginal press regarding many out of court settlements about The Silent Lambs.

First of all individuals MUST be held accountable for their behavior, secondly the institution has to make sure that pedophiles are reported to local authorities to deal with. Their ministry is a secondary issue.

Published by: Sister M. Immaculata Dunn
Valley Forge, Pa, USA 07/18/2007 06:01 AM EST

Isn't it sad that the lead off sentence of spokesman Lombardi's comments seems to exhibit an "everybody else is doing it" kind of mentality?

Yes, we know that sex abuse is not a "catholic" problem but the cover-up that has been going on certainly appears to be a "catholic" problem. In fact it seems to be endemic among the bishops of our church. Why is that?

It may be because the bishops themselves are so much a part of the problem.

Lombardi goes on to say, that the settlement in Los Angeles is an attempt to "close a painful chapter and look forward".

How can our church look forward when the underlying reasons for the extent of the problem have not even been recognized let alone addressed?
The bishops covered up problems they could have dealt with because they are part of a system, they were trained by that system and the system itself is gravely flawed.

The system is the hierarchical system as it exists today in the Catholic Church.
Bishops who have become so much of the problem, like Mahony is Los Angeles, need to be replaced because they have completely lost credibility.

Why even the authorities in Rome will not admit the pandemic nature of the problem.

In Italy a documentary on sexual abuse, I believe it was "Deliver Us From Evil," was banned.
Confidental reports made to the Vatican on the sexual abuse of nuns have not been dealt with since they were submitted years ago.

Sister M. Immaculata Dunn
Philly Archdio
maryidunn@yahoo.com

Published by: Ray Hilgart
Warenton/VA/USA 07/17/2007 07:03 PM EST

Throughout the history of the Judeo-Christian era, God has sent afflictions on his people. WHY? To punish them for their transgressions and to test their faith. Why in his name cannot our Catholic religious leaders explain that wars, famines, natural calamities, the evil Popes era, the Catholic Priests Sexual Abuse era, etc, etc, etc. is God's response to our sinful ways and a test of our faith. Those Catholics who understand this and accept it as such and pray for forgiveness will have met the FAITH TEST.

Published by: R. Sullivan
Lillian, AL, USA 07/17/2007 01:08 PM EST

When is the Church going to admit that this is a "homosexual" problem also?

Published by: Br. Stephen Greinke
USA - Philippines 07/17/2007 12:02 PM EST

The Vatican needs to investigate the Philippine Diocese of Naval for the immoral conduct of the Bishop and priests. It has been long known by the people of the Diocese of the Bishop’s immoral behavior with underage boys. Again to the Holy See – do something before it become too big of scandal that you can’t handle!

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