Rome, Italy, Apr 13, 2010 / 08:24 am
Pope Benedict XVI is leading a “self-examination” of the Church to rid it of the individuals who are responsible for perpetrating or mishandling cases of pedophilia, according to the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) president, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco.
Expressing his “shame and remorse” for the victims’ experiences, Cardinal Bagnasco vowed to pursue, “inside and outside the Church,” those who failed to bring sex abusers to justice.
During an interview published on Sunday in Italy’s ilsole24ore.com, he was asked for his perspective on the recent media frenzy for and against the actions of the Holy Father and others Church leaders in their handling of sexual abuse of children by priests.
“Pedophilia ... is an odious crime,” he said, adding that “it’s also a scandalously serious sin” which in all cases is “aberrant” as it "betrays the educational relationship." When it involves a consecrated person, he said, “it acquires an even greater seriousness.”