Pope promises crackdown on abuse
Pope Benedict XVI pledged that the Roman Catholic Church would take action to confront the clerical sex abuse scandal, his first public remarks calling for change since the crisis erupted.
Already, the Vatican told bishops that they must report abusive priests to police if civil laws where they live require it.
It promised "effective measures" to protect children. Benedict himself wept alongside abuse victims in Malta.
"Pope Benedict is obviously anguished by sexual abuse in the church, as evidenced by his emotional meeting with victims in Malta," said Father Jim Martin, a Jesuit priest and author.
"The personal impact on the pope should not be underestimated as a goad for continuing reform. But follow-up is paramount."
During his weekly public audience yesterday in St Peter's Square, Benedict recounted his tearful weekend encounter in Malta with eight men who say they were abused as children by priests in a church-run orphanage. Benedict met with the men in the Vatican's embassy for over a half-hour, praying with them and listening to their stories.
"I shared with them their suffering, and emotionally prayed with them, assuring them of church action," Benedict told the audience.
At the time of the private meeting, the Vatican issued a statement saying Benedict had told the men that the church would do everything in its power to bring justice to abusive priests and would implement "effective measures" to protect children.
Yesterday, the public heard the words from the Pope himself.
Neither Benedict nor the Vatican elaborated on what action or measures are being considered. Various national bishops conferences have over the years implemented norms for handling cases of priests who sexually abuse children, none more stringent than the zero-tolerance policy adopted by the United States.
The US norms, which are being held up as a model for others, bar credibly accused priests from any public church work while claims against them are under investigation.
Diocesan review boards, comprised mostly of lay people, help bishops oversee cases. Clergy found guilty are permanently barred from public ministry and, in some cases, ousted from the priesthood.
Victims advocates demanded the Vatican take stronger action and remove the bishops who shielded known abusers, shuffling them from diocese to diocese rather than reporting them to police.
