The Pope's apology

The Pope's apology
he Pope's apology to sexual abuse victims will galvanise the Catholic Church in Australia to improve the way it deals with such evil, a bishop says.

The Pope apologised on Saturday for the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy in Australia, saying he was ''deeply sorry'' for the pain and suffering victims had endured.

''These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation,'' the pontiff told a congregation of 3400 people, including Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell, bishops, seminarians, and religious and school groups.

''Those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people.''

World Youth Day coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher said yesterday he joined with the general community in welcoming the pontiff's ''heartfelt'' words.

''That call to bring justice against the perpetrators and to bring healing, reconciliation and justice to the victims and to ensure prevention of this sort of thing in the future, to the extent that anyone can, that call to us is a challenge to the Church,'' he said.

''We're certainly committed to the process. This added impetus the Holy Father gives us means we will certainly as a Church in Australia be looking to how we can do this better in the future.''

Bishop Fisher said he did not know if the Pope would have time in a packed schedule to meet victims before he was due to leave this morning. ''Even if he did meet a few victims like he did in the United States, there's still hundreds more out there,'' he said. ''I think what he said is for all of them and I very much hope people will hear that message with open ears.

''The Holy Father wants every victim to know that Christ's loving compassionate heart is there for them and the Church is there for them, deeply ashamed of where it's hurt them and wanting them back.'' Bishop Fisher also apologised for comments he made when he faced questions about the Catholic Church's handling of Melbourne sisters repeatedly raped by a priest.

He came under fire for saying some people were ''dwelling crankily'' on old wounds, but said yesterday his remarks were misconstrued. ''I was commenting then on a few people in the media who I thought, and the word I used, I think, was 'cranky', in their reporting on the issue of sexual abuse and World Youth Day,'' he said.

''I certainly wasn't intending in any way to make remarks about the victims themselves. Sexual abuse has absolutely no place in the life of the Church. If anything I've said or anyone else has said has exacerbated that situation or hurt them in any way all I can offer again is my deepest apology.''

Bishop Fisher said the Church recognised many people suffered for years after child abuse.

''It's not my place or anyone else's to tell them to stop grieving or to stop hurting: our job is to help them heal and that's what I want to do and that's what the Church wants to do.'' AAP
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/sex-abuse-apology-to-galvanise-church/1060875.aspx