We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
POPE FRANCIS HAS asked for forgiveness from survivors of clerical sex abuse who met with him today in the Vatican for the first time.
In a homily delivered after meeting privately with six survivors – including two from Ireland – Pope Francis condemned the “execrable acts of abuse” committed by Catholic clergy.
“Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness,” he said during a mass attended by abuse survivors, according to an official Vatican transcript.
Addressing what he called the “life long scars” of abuse, the Pontiff acknowledged the despair, addiction, difficult relationships, and suicide brought on by the “more than despicable actions” of abusers.
He thanked the survivors for speaking up and shedding light on “a terrible darkness in the life of the Church,” before condemning those culpable for the abuse, as well as those who “did not respond adequately to reports of abuse”.
Some priests and bishops, by sexually abusing minors, violated their innocence and their own priestly vocation…They profane the very image of God in whose likeness we were created…All bishops must carry out their pastoral ministry with the utmost care in order to help foster the protection of minors, and they will be held accountable.
The mass came after Pope Francis had earlier hosted, for the first time, an official meeting with six survivors of clerical sex abuse – two Irish, two British and two German.
Marie Kane, from Bray, Co. Wicklow was joined by an Irish man – another abuse survivor – as well as Marie Collins, herself an abuse survivor and campaigner with One In Four, who was recently appointed to the Vatican’s commission for the protection of minors.
Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’ Malley was also present at the meeting in the Pope’s private guesthouse.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Pope Francis you need to remove Sean Brady who was, as confirmed by a Government enquiry, complicit in a crime by swearing abused children to secrecy. This man should be in jail and not head of the Church in Ireland. He should not be allowed to resign he should be dismissed in disgrace.
The Vatican is acting on the confession box, ” Forgive me father for I have sinned ” say a penance and all is forgiven..Well not this time. What should have been done when they refused to pay compensation, is take away their Charity number and status. Millions of £ are still collected around the world, tax free, and of course outside of the Vatican no one ever really knew how much was given.
Both points above are excellent ….
The important point about this from the Pope is that those who have abused and are still abusing now know that there is no cover in the Vatican anymore and that it is a sin !
Prior to this the Vatican silence could be taken as approval …
Is this far enough not by a long way , but every journey begins with a single step , this is the first step in the history of the Roman religion in the right direction….
Let’s see how our Bishops and priests react …… they have no excuse now but to open up the books and hand those responsible over to the authorities … if they don’t they might get excommunicated – by the Pope of all people !
Sean Brady will be 75 in August and that point he has to submit his resignation either way. The pope doesn’t have to accept it, but it’s likely he will.
They must take us all for fools http://www.snapnetwork.org/rome_pope_promises_to_hold_bishops_accountable_snap_is_skeptical?recruiter_id=33428
The PR gold pope speaks mush words of drivel and vapid useless dirge. Open the doors mate, let the light shine in. Open all records to professional investigation otherwise no more useless waffle!
They stretch back to the 4 th. century apparently ; records of child abuse … the 4th. century reference is to a reference in a 4th, century document rather than records of child abuse being held silently and contiguously since the 4th. century !
I respect the people who can stand before a pope and attend mass having been raped by his family members. How is it possible to forgive and continue to live out a life with the perpetrators still in denial.
That is the magic of a 2000 year old story that still exerts such unbelievable control over a 1 billion plus population. If something good happens it’s God’s beneficence. If something bad happens that is God working in mysterious ways, testing us. Forgiveness is part of this and seen as a virtue. But how can forgiveness be given when guilt has never even been acknowledged?
Kind of like Stockholm syndrome.
Never too late to do the right thing I suppose , this being very very very late
The right thing would be to hand over all records to the UN and to financially compensate victims, also to make sure that the religious orders in Ireland pay the compensation they have refused to pay despite having agreed to do so. Talk is cheap.
Well said Dermot!
Not a word on compensation, not a word on celibacy, not a word on women being ordained. Apologies come cheap. Nice man but we need to see real change.
UN enquiry still being blocked by the vatican
Always with the compo. And what figure would you put on a rape? This is merely me speculating but I’d say that acknowledgment and the apology alone are worth more to these victims than any amount of money. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t be compensated but seeing the perpetrators exposed and punished is where the closure may come from. Not writing checks.
I got no issues with receiving compo. I have sued before and I would sue again.
No win, no fee I assume.
They have Ireland covered with a nice little indemnity deal. Still haven’t honored it, despite the huge discount given them by Michael Woods on behalf of the Irish state.
Tax payer will be picking up that tab.
Church and State Criminal Abuses of Power:
Institutions such as Church and State have but one means of restitution when institutional crimes are committed against citizens.
The Institutions through the courts are forced to pay compensation.
Ireland has never brought those responsible for political or clerical abuses of power to account by criminal prosecutions of individuals.
There is no other redress unless victims of state violence and state crimes decide to take up arms and exact vengence … an eye for an eye etc.
The only legal recourse against the Irish State and Clerical Power is through the Irish Courts and the Courts decide the punishment in calculated compensation amounts.
Victims of clerical abuse have that same right to compensation as every litigant in the High Court.
Irish Law … roish, plumby Dubs think the High Court is there for their exclusive use against little things… libel, privacy and cover for plumby existences… roish.
So you golf with the judge ….
That law book was written for every citizen…
You did not know that…roish.
Satire
Compo isn’t enough but it hits the church where it hurts most , their fuggin pockets . That’s all the vile institution is really concerned with. They know when their source of income is depleted so is their power . When will the pope and Vatican desist from using terms designed to minimise what happened . When will they use appropriate language, when will he/they explicitly say that thousands if not millions of children were RAPED and TORTURED by catholic clerics internationally .
Far too little much too late. The church is all about humility, love and forgiveness now. Let’s not forget what they were like when they powerful and they called the shots in this country.
I can’t tell if this new popes popularity is being earned with truth or is he just telling us what we want to hear because of the state of the Catholic Church at present.
he’s an enigma isn’t he.
Bad point ; Jesuit.
Good point ; He’s inspiring people !
The latter is probably the more important so regardless of motive then he is definitely a positive on the world. Most other leaders are either roaring for war or screaming for more taxes …at least he isn’t doing that although the effect might be just the same and designed for same….
Let the bishop-bashing begin…
Sure, do you have a spare mallet or should I bring my own.
He use to be a bouncer – he can hold his own I’d say
Pity they didn’t stick to bishop bashing and left those poor children alone. Too little, too late.
@Paul Roche Well if he is asking the same God for forgiveness that thinks homosexuality is a sin, sex before marriage and contraception then he is foocked.
A bouncer at a children’s disco no doubt !
Paul,
You’re not really up to date with what he says are you?
With what God says ? Honestly, he has yet to speak to me
Who you talk to when you’re on your own isn’t any of my business. I was referring to what Pope Francis was saying.
Words are easy, actions not so much. I want to see the perpetrators of said abuse, being led away in handcuffs and stand in a court for their actions. Anything else is not acceptable.
Totally agree John. There must be total accountability and punishment for their crimes, everything else is just candy floss for the ears of the apologists.
When will the Church get it. This is not the apology people want. In fact it is not an apology at all. He cannot seek forgiveness on behalf of others who committed the crimes. What the world wants is not for him to apologize for then, but to apologize for himself and the crimes of his organization. What people need is for him to apologize for how his organization covered up the rapes, moved priests quietly to different parishes, ignored allegations of rape and overall turned a blind eye and thus enabling the rapists to continue for a lot longer. It is ridiculous to expect him to bear guilt for the actions of others. But his organization facilitated the rapes and that is a crime that they will never admit guilt to. This is a meaningless apology on their part as usual. He should be a politician.
Apologies mean nothing unless backed up with a change in behaviour .
The Pope would do well to remember.
You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Abraham Lincoln.
Sorry but the Catholic Church has so much to beg forgiveness for the late Mr Hitchens put it perfectly.
Hitchens on the Catholic Church: http://youtu.be/NOamsF5r3TE
JPS.. Let the victims of abuse that met Pope Francis today be the judge of whether he was genuine or not…
I doubt they have any interest in what Hitchens has to say..
Well said JPS and interesting that you chose the words of two great men. Lincoln was exactly a favourite of the church as he destroyed their profits and interests in the slave trade.
To be fair Pope Francis seems to be genuine in his actions
Forgiveness is something you do for your own peace of mind. It helps a person get on with their own life. You don’t do it for the perpetrator of a crime. If you don’t forgive the bitterness festers and eats away at you.
Sexual abuse is a horrendous crime especially against small, vulnerable children. It’s hard to forgive but it is essential in order to move on.
I think Pope Francis is to be commended asking for forgiveness from those abused. I hope they forgave him.
Would you forgive someone who raped and tortured you? Do you seriously think that all the pain and suffering they endured over many decades will just disappear with an apology?
Move on here people, he said soz, nothing to see here, all is forgiven! CHRIST ALMIGHTY!
Jill,
There’s no such thing as a quick apology & all is forgiven.
Forgiveness is a very Long, slow process and has to be worked on.
I repeat forgiveness is something you do for yourself, your own peace of mind if you want to recover from the trauma. Nelson Mandella forgave his persecutors & always preached the importance of forgiveness. Try and relate it to something in your own everyday life and you may have a better understanding.
Oh how humble of him…
When I hear the church say it has changed , I’m reminded of the fable of the scorpion and the frog.
“Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness,”
What “god”??Since when were we his people? like law of the sea “ownership”
have your say