"Pope Francis used one of his major annual Christmas speeches to offer some of his strongest words about this year’s heightened sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church, telling guilty priests the church will not protect them and they should turn themselves in. Francis’ remarks capped a dreadful year for the Catholic Church, one that began with his own botched handling of a sprawling sex abuse scandal in Chile and ended with the U.S. hierarchy in a free-fall of credibility as state prosecutors have begun uncovering decades of cover-up. His remarks this year had a more global outlook, noting that all around there are priests who “without batting an eye” are ready to betray all that the church stands for and enter into a “web of corruption” by abusing those in their care.
“Often behind their boundless amiability, impeccably activity and angelic faces, they shamelessly conceal a vicious wolf ready to devour innocent souls,” he said.
My response: Finally, Pope Francis states that the Church will no longer cover-up clergy sex abuse. However, under Pope John Paul 11, the Vatican ordered that clergy sex abuse cases be sent to the Vatican. So, what is the plan going forward to hold bishops accountable? A council of Catholics in each diocese should be appointed in consultation with the people of the diocese to recommend removal of bishops who are guilty of abuse and/or cover-up abuse.
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, https://arcwp.org
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2018/12/21/hand-yourself-over-human-justice-pope-francis-tells-priests-guilty-abuse-that-church-wont-shield-them/?utm_term=.45908785f89
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