Dublin, Ireland, Aug 25, 2018 / 04:19 am
In Ireland on Saturday, Pope Francis said the anger of Catholics at bishops' failure in response to the sexual abuse crisis is appropriate and that he shares those feelings.
"With regard to the most vulnerable, I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church charged with responsibility for their protection and education," he said to Irish authorities Aug. 25.
"The failure of ecclesiastical authorities – bishops, religious superiors, priests and others – adequately to address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community." He added: "I myself share those sentiments."
In his first official speech of the apostolic voyage to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families, the pope said he hopes the "failings of many" will underscore the importance of protecting children and vulnerable adults by all of society.
He referenced the words of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who in a letter to the Catholics of Ireland recognized the gravity of the situation of child sex abuse and demanded "truly evangelical, just and effective" measures in response to the betrayal of trust.