Media’s attempts to stir up scandal pleases demons, says Spanish bishop

Cordoba, Spain, May 5, 2010 / 15:58 pm

Bishop Demetrio Fernandez Gonzalez of Cordoba, Spain said the scandal and opportunism of the media in response accusations of sex abuse by some members of the Catholic clergy brings pleasure to demons.

Speaking of the media response to the instance of sex abuse within the Church, Bishop Fernandez remarked that the “enemies of the Church have found a gold mine for discrediting her, and each day they strategically dispense a few drops of this elixir which brings pleasure to demons.”

“Some have even been so bold as to attack Pope Benedict XVI, accusing him of a cover-up,” in an attempt to discredit the entire Catholic Church, he added.

The news in all of this is that some clergy members are also criminals, Archbishop Fernandez said. “That’s the news. Nothing else matters,” he said, such as the fact that “the Church is using every means to purge from her ranks those who do not deserve to be trusted with boys and girls. He added that children “need to be helped in their development, not destroyed in their childhood.”

“Certainly one abused child is one too many, but let us not forget the thousands of good people” in the priesthood. “They deserve all of our trust today more than ever, because” Pope Benedict and Vatican officials have taken several steps demonstrating that this behavior will not be tolerated within the Church, he added.

“Those who have committed such abuse are called to ask for God’s forgiveness, who they have gravely offended, and to submit themselves to the justice of the courts,” Bishop Fernandez concluded.