 |
| Pope Francis prays during a weekly general audience in St Peter's square on May 23, 2018 in Vatican (AFP Photo/Alberto PIZZOLI) |
Santiago (AFP) - Pope Francis voiced "shame" that the Catholic church failed "to listen and react in time" to allegations of sexual abuse by Chilean clergy, in a letter to Chileans released Thursday.
Several members
of the Chilean church hierarchy are accused by victims of ignoring and covering
up child abuse by pedophile priest Fernando Karadima during the 1980s and
1990s.
Francis
earlier this month promised "changes" to the Chilean church to
"restore justice" after reading the conclusions of an investigation
into the abuse.
"I
must say with shame that we did not listen and react in time" over the
allegations, the pope said in the letter, released by Chile's Episcopal
Conference at a news conference.
The
Argentine pope also announced a new trip soon to Chile by Archbishop Charles
Scicluna and Father Jordi Bertomeu, who visited Santiago in February to talk to
the victims.
Francis has
apologized to the victims, three of whom he met with recently.
On Friday
and Sunday, he is to receive seven more victims of Karadima, who was suspended
for life by the Vatican.
On May 18,
34 Chilean bishops announced their resignation over the scandal, after Francis
summoned them.
Since 2000,
about 80 Roman Catholic priests have been reported to authorities in Chile for
alleged sexual abuse.
Some
analysts note that Chile's long tradition of having the church not subject to
civilian law lent itself to impunity and cover-ups.
 |
| In a statement, the 34 Chilean bishops asked "forgiveness for the pain caused to the victims" |
Related Articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.