Apr 22, 2010 / 10:31 am
In response to the media coverage of clerical sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, the bishops of England and Wales expressed today their “heartfelt apology and deep sorrow” to victims of sexual abuse and for the Church's previous handling of the scandal. The bishops appealed for prayers, recognized Pope Benedict’s “wise and courageous leadership” and pledged their commitment to the protection of children.
The message, released by the bishops’ conference following their meeting on Thursday in Leeds, stressed that “there can be no excuses” for cases of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. The statement will be distributed to all parishes in the country this coming weekend.
First and foremost in their thoughts and prayers, they wrote, are “all who have suffered from the horror of these crimes.” They added that their own distress is "nothing" when compared to the suffering of the abused.
Calling the criminal acts of sexual abuse by clergy and religious a “profound scandal,” the bishops wrote that “they bring deep shame to the whole church.”