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Abuse scandal must inspire purification, justice, pope tells bishops
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The scandal of clerical abuse of minors must inspire bishops and priests to rediscover the need for penitence, purification, forgiveness and justice, Pope Benedict XVI told Italian bishops.
The church’s desire to engage in a new evangelization of the world “does not hide the wounds scarring the church community, (wounds) caused by the weakness and sin of some of its members,” he said in an audience with members of the Italian bishops’ conference May 27.
While the pope did not specifically mention the crisis of sex abuse in the church, he briefly referred to it in his 20-minute speech to the bishops, who were holding their general assembly in the Vatican synod hall May 24-28.
The pope said the Year for Priests, which closes with a Mass June 11, has served as a reminder for the need for deep spiritual renewal within the priesthood.
The “humble and painful admission” of the sins of some of the church’s members should not obscure the good and saintliness of so many others, including lay faithful and priests, he said.
catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1002205.htm
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The scandal of clerical abuse of minors must inspire bishops and priests to rediscover the need for penitence, purification, forgiveness and justice, Pope Benedict XVI told Italian bishops.
The church’s desire to engage in a new evangelization of the world “does not hide the wounds scarring the church community, (wounds) caused by the weakness and sin of some of its members,” he said in an audience with members of the Italian bishops’ conference May 27.
While the pope did not specifically mention the crisis of sex abuse in the church, he briefly referred to it in his 20-minute speech to the bishops, who were holding their general assembly in the Vatican synod hall May 24-28.
The pope said the Year for Priests, which closes with a Mass June 11, has served as a reminder for the need for deep spiritual renewal within the priesthood.
The “humble and painful admission” of the sins of some of the church’s members should not obscure the good and saintliness of so many others, including lay faithful and priests, he said.
catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1002205.htm