Pope Francis claimed this Thursday that the Catholic Church cannot hide the tragedy of child sexual abuse by priests, in a video released on the internet portal of the pope’s global prayer network. “The Catholic Church cannot try to hide the tragedy of abuse, whatever its nature”defended the Pope in the video with the intention to pray for the month of March, with the theme “For Victims of Abuse”.
Under the heading “reflection,” the text published on that online page specifies that it is “a sensitive issue”: “Abuses within the Church, whether abuse of conscience, abuse of power or sexual abuse.” “The abuse of men and women of the church is a monstrosity”the pope declared clearly and imploringly: “Let us pray for those who suffer from the evils committed by members of the ecclesial community, so that they may find within the Church itself a concrete answer to their pain and suffering”.
Going beyond the purpose of the monthly prayer, the leader of the Catholic Church underlines that “the Church is called to fight this evil that strikes at the heart of her mission: to proclaim the Gospel to the little ones and to protect them from ravening wolves”. . “The purpose of the Church will be to listen, protect, protect and treat abused, exploited and forgotten minors wherever they may be”said Francis.
The pope has taken several measures to prevent and punish child sexual abuse and the cover-ups, but victim groups continue to insist that more needs to be done.
Source: DN
