VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is promising to hold bishops accountable for the protection of minors. The pledge came as the pope celebrated a Mass with six victims of clergy sex abuse, and begged for their forgiveness.
In his homily, the pope didn’t spell out just how he would hold bishops accountable — and whether that would include firing bishops and other church leaders who systematically moved pedophile priests from parish to parish to avoid bringing shame upon the Catholic Church.
One of the six people who met with Francis today — Marie Kane of Ireland — says she asked him to remove an Irish cardinal, Sean Brady, from his post because of how he handled allegations of abuse. The Irish Times quotes her as saying she told the pontiff a “cover-up is still happening, and you have the power to make these changes.” She says he replied that it’s difficult to make the changes.
Even as the pope spent his morning with the three men and three women who’d been abused by priests, other abuse survivors who weren’t at the meeting were critical, with one calling the meeting “a PR event.” They said the meeting would probably not advance their complaints that the Vatican has failed to punish church officials who covered up the abuse of minors.
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139-c-12-(Frances D’Emilio, AP correspondent)-“be held accountable”-AP correspondent Frances D’Emilio reports that the pope has promised to hold bishops accountable for the protection of minors. (7 Jul 2014)
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138-c-11-(Frances D’Emilio, AP correspondent)-“sins of omission”-AP correspondent Frances D’Emilio reports Pope Francis pleaded with victims of clergy sex abuse to forgive the Church, as he held his first meeting with several abuse survivors. (7 Jul 2014)
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