Holy Father in London on 'shame' and 'sorrow' of abuse

[lizardley]

Pope Benedict XVI spoke today of the entire Church’s shame over the abuse issue within the Church and of his ‘deepest sorrow for unspeakable crimes’

His Holiness made the remarks during his homily at Westminster Cathedral this morning.
sconews.co.uk/news/pope-benedict-on-shame-of-abuse-need-for-vocations/

 

[GeoCyclist]

It wont be enough to silence those that already KNOW and do not doubt for a second the sincerity and heart felt genuineness of the apology - they will continue to be infuriated by the continued lack of acknowledgement in public by the pope of the systematic coverup the church engaged in.

 

[Karamazov]

It wont be enough to silence those that already KNOW and do not doubt for a second the sincerity and heart felt genuineness of the apology - they will continue to be infuriated by the continued lack of acknowledgement in public by the pope of the systematic coverup the church engaged in.

As a critic of the Catholic church on the abuse scandal I think this apology, while late, will do a lot to heal the damage. The church is actually doing a lot to make sure this kind of abuse never happens again. However, the apology won’t satisfy the press and those who hate the Catholic church; these will never be appeased.

 

[Saintlucy]

The Vatican itself put out a press statement earlier this evening. I cannot find it on the Vatican website but it affirms that the Vatican will do everything it can to heal the scars and bring to justice all those who are guilty.

 

[GeoCyclist]

However, the apology won’t satisfy the press and those who hate the Catholic church; these will never be appeased.

It’s important to remember for some it’s not a case of ‘‘hating’’ the catholic church. Many of those abused never left the church and continue to try an live their lives as devout catholics. Their point, as I heard it made, was that it’s easy enough to feel shame, feel embarased, feel humiliated, and have sympathy for all sorts of events and occurances, but what they have not heard it the pope actually say the words ‘‘I am sorry’’. I heard someone yesterday ask how can you apologise for something without ever saying the word ‘‘sorry’’. I think part of the problem is the language of intellectuals in the church, and the people they are addressing. Sometimes, with the best will in the world, the message is lost on those hearing it. It’s encumbant on those delivering the message to ensure those hearing it understand.

 

[LilyM]

It’s important to remember for some it’s not a case of ‘‘hating’’ the catholic church. Many of those abused never left the church and continue to try an live their lives as devout catholics. Their point, as I heard it made, was that it’s easy enough to feel shame, feel embarased, feel humiliated, and have sympathy for all sorts of events and occurances, but what they have not heard it the pope actually say the words ‘‘I am sorry’’. I heard someone yesterday ask how can you apologise for something without ever saying the word ‘‘sorry’’. I think part of the problem is the language of intellectuals in the church, and the people they are addressing. Sometimes, with the best will in the world, the message is lost on those hearing it. It’s encumbant on those delivering the message to ensure those hearing it understand.

I’ve got to disagree with most all of your points.

Firstly - one can apologise by saying ‘I apologise’ - which of course doesn’t contain the word ‘sorry’.

Secondly - -iIt’s NOT easy, for many people, to either feel, or admit to feeling, shame, embarrassment, humiliation or sympathy. That’s why denial and blaming the victim is so frequently the first instinct, because so many lack, at least to some degree, the capacity to feel one or more of those things.

And finally, ‘sorry’ can actually be incredibly easy to say. The word is so vague that it can mean any one of a variety of things. ‘I’m sorry I was caught out doing wrong’, for example. ‘I’m sorry that I’m going to be punished for my misdeeds’. ‘I’m sorry that my reputation is torn to shreds by this incident’. None of which relate to any feeling whatsoever for the victims.

Of course the word ‘sorry’ is more usually shorthand for sentiments including ‘I feel sorrow for victims’, ‘I feel shame’, and ‘I feel humiliation’. In other words exactly the things that the Pope DID say, and much more eloquently than bandying about the overused word ‘sorry’.

Put it this way - if the Pope accidentally trod on my toe I’d expect him to say ‘I’m sorry’. If he’s talking about victims of abuse I’d expect him to say a heck of a lot more - just as he did.

 

[GeoCyclist]

Put it this way - if the Pope accidentally trod on my toe I’d expect him to say ‘I’m sorry’. If he’s talking about victims of abuse I’d expect him to say a heck of a lot more - just as he did.

That was my point - those who what to hear and feel a personal sorry from the pope, who they hold as overall responsible for both the abuse being allowed to continue and the coverup, both from the time her was cardinal and now as head of the worldwide church, are NOT hearing what they want to hear, despite the meetings with the victims and the numerous statements made. And it’s encumbant on those sending the message to ensure those hearing it understand. From listening to some of the victim support groups that’s what I’m getting from them, they are hearing lots of words, but not what they want to hear.

 

[LilyM]

That was my point - those who what to hear and feel a personal sorry from the pope, who they hold as overall responsible for both the abuse being allowed to continue and the coverup, both from the time her was cardinal and now as head of the worldwide church, are NOT hearing what they want to hear, despite the meetings with the victims and the numerous statements made. And it’s encumbant on those sending the message to ensure those hearing it understand. From listening to some of the victim support groups that’s what I’m getting from them, they are hearing lots of words, but not what they want to hear.

And you know that he could talk every minute of every hour of every day for the rest of his life. And say everything that could possibly BE said. And mean it all from the bottom of his heart and soul. And convey perfectly every ounce of that sincerity. And some will still say ‘not good enough’ - because nothing will ever satisfy them. Nothing.

Some people who have been hurt are like kids who graze their knees - and pick and pick and pick everlastingly at their scabs and just can’t seem to leave them be so that they can heal. Enough is enough with the words - it’s only action that will really do the trick now, I think.