Sex Abuse: Benedict XVI has been decisive in this process of change

Benedict XVI has been decisive in this process of change and in taking immediate decisive action.

Benedict XVI
Flight to U.S. April 2008
ORIGINAL ENGLISH
"It's more important to have good priests than many priests."


Conclave 2005

The day before the conclave of April 2005, Cardinal Francis George, president of the American bishops met with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. They talked about the need for the next Pope to address the problem aggressively.


Forty-eight hours later, Ratzinger became Benedict XVI. During his first personal greeting to Cardinal George, he confirmed that he would keep to his plan.

A month later ...

During the first month of his pontificate Benedict XVI suspended Italian priest Gino Burresi, founder of the Order of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who had been accused of various abuses. The Pope ordered him to retire to private life, to stop hearing confessions and holding Masses in public.

A year later ...

The most difficult case was that of Mexican priest Marcial Maciel, who had been accused of molesting seminarians in the past. Many in Mexico and the Vatican considered the accusations to be false and slanderous. But the Pope had more information on the facts and forced Maciel to retire to a secluded life of prayer and penance.


JOHN ALLEN
National Catholic Reporter (U.S.)
ORIGINAL ENGLISH
21.00 - The fact that Benedict XVI acted in the Maciel case a few months after his election is the signal to Catholics, as they say in America, 'has reached a new sheriff to town. " Or what is the same, now no one will be untouchable.


FR. JOHN WAUCK
American Priest
ORIGINAL ENGLISH
The cleaning, the cleansing process is sometimes painful but in the end it does enormous good for the laity for the clergy for the Church as a whole.


Benedict's solution to the problem of sexual abuse is based on three approaches: to heal wounds, repair the damage and undertake a spiritual renewal.

Benedict XVI has been leading by example in the process of healing wounds and reconciling with the victims. He has met with them on several occasions. The first meeting took place in Washington DC during his trip to the U.S.

For the first time in history a pope met with victims of sexual abuse. It was a private meeting away from the media. Benedict XVI heard the story of each victim, asked each of them for forgiveness and prayed with them all.


A few months later he repeated the gesture during his trip to Australia. The following year, he did the same in the Vatican with a group of Native Canadians. And then in Malta in April 2010.

LAWRENCE
Victim (Malta)
ORIGINAL ENGLISH
"This is more than I expected. You have to think how the pope has had courage to show his face for someone else who have done bad things to us."

Benedict XVI, May 11, 2010
"The greatest persecution of the church today, was born from sins inside the church, not outside. The Church needs to answer to justice because forgiveness cannot replace justice."

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[19lfm12]

Benny the Rat has done nothing by lie & equivocate, rather then being honest & transparent.

If the Vatican Administration had one shred of decency, they would immediately strip him of office & defrock him, placing him on Italian soil.....so that he can be picked up by Interpol for questioning & trial.

[pamkau1]

This is not enough.

Words and 'decisive action' must be translated into a genuine change of attitude to victims & accountability to civil authorities. Criminal activity is still being kept cloistered. Nothing less than truth and transparency from the Pope and all the hierarchy to parish level will suffice.

Benedict must open all secret priests files to scrutiny, order zero tolerance. demand resignations of 'cover up' bishops and replace with clergy who will put children's safety before Church.