Pope Issues Most Direct Words to Date on Abuse

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/world/europe/12pope.html?hp

May 11, 2010
Pope Issues Most Direct Words to Date on Abuse
By RACHEL DONADIO
EXCERPT:
“The church has a profound need to relearn penance, to accept purification, to learn on the one hand forgiveness but also the necessity of justice. And forgiveness does not substitute justice.”

"In placing the blame for sex abuse directly on the church, Benedict appeared to distance himself from other church officials who in recent weeks have criticized the news media for reporting on the sex abuse crisis, which they called attacks on the church."