Pope deplores church’s violation of children

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday (Feb. 8) condemned the fact that members of the Catholic Church had, at times, violated the “dignity and rights of minors.” In an address to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Family, the pope said the church had protected and cared for many children over the years. […]

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday (Feb. 8) condemned the fact that members of the Catholic Church had, at times, violated the “dignity and rights of minors.”

In an address to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Family, the pope said the church had protected and cared for many children over the years. But, Benedict added, “Unfortunately, in various cases, some of its members, acting in contrast with this commitment, have violated those rights: behavior that the Church has not failed and will not fail to deplore and condemn.”

Benedict spoke one week before meeting with Irish bishops at the Vatican, reportedly to discuss last November’s Murphy Commission report. That report traced a pattern of clerical physical and sexual abuse over three decades, from 1975-2004, which had been covered up by the Archdiocese of Dublin.


In December, Benedict expressed “outrage,” “shame,” and “profound regret” over the report’s revelations, and the Vatican announced he would “address a Pastoral Letter to the faithful of Ireland in which he will clearly indicate the initiatives that are to be taken in response to the situation.” The pope’s letter is widely expected to be published shortly after next week’s meeting.

Four Irish bishops have already resigned as a consequence of the Murphy Commission’s revelations.

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