| Current affairs | |
| 20 Jul 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com | |
| Pope apologises for sex abuse in Australia | |
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SYDNEY: Pope Benedict on Saturday apologised directly for the first time for sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy, but victims groups in Australia said they wanted action and not words. The pope, making some of his most explicit comments on the sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Church in several countries, also said unequivocally that those responsible should be brought to justice. Benedict made a last-minute addition to his prepared homily in St. Mary's Cathedral, adding one powerful and personal sentence - using the word "I" three times - the Vatican had hoped would satisfy victims groups. "Indeed, I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that as their pastor I too share in their suffering," he said. Acknowledging the "shame which we have all felt," he called sexual abuse of minors an "evil" and added that "those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice". Actions not words: Minutes after he spoke, victims' groups said it was not enough and an anti-pope protest was held as some 250,000 young pilgrims in Sydney for World Youth Day celebrations marched to a suburban racetrack for an evening prayer vigil with the pope. "Sorry is not enough. Victims want action, not just words," said victims' group Broken Rites, which has been pushing for an open and accountable system of investigating abuse claims. They say the Church in Australia continues to try to cover up abuse. "A remote apology does not carry anywhere near the weight as a personal, direct apology," said Anthony Foster, whose two daughters were raped by a Melbourne priest. "This is only an apology, it is only words, it doesn't commit all the resources of the Church to this problem ... he needs to meet with victims and victim support groups to understand what is required," Foster said. Around 1,000 protesters marched against Church teachings on sexual morality. Some chanted: "Pope is wrong, put a condom on," and threw condoms into the air as young pilgrims marched across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge to the vigil site. Reuters
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2:55 AM
Sultan Shahin
1 comments:
The Let Go...Let Peace Come In Foundation is a newly formed nonprofit with a mission to help heal and support adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse worldwide. We are actively seeking adult survivors who would be willing to post a childhood photo and caption, their story, or their creative expressions to our website www.letgoletpeacecomein.org. We need to "show" the world that we will no longer be silenced and that there are enough of us to make a difference. By uniting survivors from across the globe we can help provide a stronger and more powerful voice to those survivors who have not yet found the courage to speak out. Together we can; together we should; together we NEED to stand up and be counted. Please visit our site for more details on how you can send us your submissions.
Thank you for everything you do!
Gretchen Paules
Administrative Director
Let Go...Let Peace Come In Foundation
111 Presidential Blvd., Suite 212
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
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