Church must recognize "terrifying" truth of abuse: Pope

[IScreamSundays]

Source: Reuters

In some of his most comprehensive public comments since the sexual abuse scandal broke two months ago, Benedict said the Church has "a very deep need" to acknowledge that it must do penitence for its sins and "accept purification."

"Today we see in a truly terrifying way that the greatest persecution of the Church does not come from outside enemies but is born of sin within the Church," he told reporters on the plane taking him to Portugal, in response to a question about the scandal.

In recent weeks, a number of Vatican officials have accused the media of waging a smear campaign against the Church, with one top Vatican official going as far as dismissing reports of a cover up of sexual abuse as "petty gossip."

The 83-year-old German pontiff, facing the worst crisis of his five-year-old papacy, said the Church had to seek forgiveness from victims of sexual abuse but also recognized that "forgiveness cannot be a substitute for justice."

"SUFFERING OF THE CHURCH"


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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64A1W220100511

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Oh no, the church is suffering.

[ensho]

1. so far its only words - lets see some action from the criminal pope

nt

[h9socialist]

3. I am not what you call "overly optimistic."

[Angry Dragon]

2. It is a start

Now we shall see if they can keep going and really take a look at reforming the church. That is the only thing that will stop the abuse of children and women.

[Dappleganger]

4. Penitence needs to begin with the Pope

in accepting responsibility for his part in the cover-up and then turning over every pedophile to the judicial system in each country where the crimes were committed.

[Angry Dragon]

5. I could not agree with you more

And then I would like to see them start respecting women. They need to acknowledge women's equality. Their christ did not put men above women.

Without a woman there would be no son of god. They never stop and think about that fact.

[fascisthunter]

6. as long as lunatics are in positions of power

we will never see change

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cosmicone]

8. A day late and a dollar short. n/t

[No Elephants]

13. I had a similar thought, but it's

probably millenia late and billions of dollars short.

Not to mention not totally believable, given the "petty gossip" comment was recent.

Cardinal Law used to call down "the judgment of God" on the Boston Globe. Why? Well, the Globe was reporting the truth, but, by saying "I call down the judgment of God on the Boston Globe," Law made it seem the Globe was lying.

Now, the Boston Globe is on its last legs, thanks to the greed of the owners of the NYT, and Cardinal Law is revered at his plum assignment at the Vatican.

Go figure.

Well, at least he will not be the first American Pope, which was widely predicted about him.

[2QT2BSTR8]

9. So terrifying that you didn't do anything decades ago about it!

[thereismore]

10. Spoken by the one who is without sin. Right? nt

[BadgerKid]

11. Token words.

Hey Bene, if and when you cleanse the church of the resident sexual predators, how about treating everyone equally, such as in stopping the gay bigotry and differential status of women? Thanks.

[yodermon]

12. "forgiveness cannot be a substitute for justice" Bullshit. That's how the

good ol' boys clubs *works*.