Pope Begs Forgiveness, Promises Action on Abuse Associated Press / Missing: Policy and Structural Change of Clerical Culture

Roman Catholic Womenpriests Mary Ann Schoettly and Katy Zatsick attend Vatican Celebration for Priests
(See stories in blog about their reception by Vatican authorities! You go, Womenpriests!)


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_VATICAN_PRIESTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-06-11-07-50-33

Pope begs forgiveness, promises action on abuse

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press Writer

...While symbolic, Benedict's pledge failed to satisfy victims groups who said promises were useless without a clear-cut action plan to root out pedophile priests, expose the bishops who protected them and change the Vatican policies and culture that allowed abuse to continue...

His comments came during a Mass at St. Peter's Square marking the Vatican's Year of the Priest - a year marred by revelations of hundreds of new cases of clerical abuse in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere, as well as cover-ups by bishops and evidence of long-standing Vatican inaction...

..."Benedict implied the devil was behind the timing of the scandal, saying the Year of the Priest was supposed to have been a year in celebration of the priesthood and encouragement for new vocations..."

Bridget Mary's Response:

Unless Pope Benedict and the Vatican "get it", that it is the clerical culture and abuse of spiritual power that is at the heart of this crisis, true reform will not occur. The Vatican has changed its strategy from blaming the press to blaming the devil! Instead, the Pope should ask himself, what would Jesus do? I believe that answer would certainly mean: admit his own failures and the Vatican's failures, remove the bishops who covered up the abuse, and change the culture of the all-male boys club atmosphere that pervaded this debacle. Now is the time for Catholics worldwide to demand new structures of accountability that involve the people of God including victims on "truth commissions" to hold the church hierarchy accountable.

Women, including women priests, are part of the solution in the transformation of the Catholic Church to a more open, participatory, community of equals. This week Vatican authorities banished our womenpriests and women's advocates of ordination from St. Peter's Square. What did these women do to deserve such hostile treatment? They stood there holding a banner. Too bad, the Vatican could not allow dissent and freedom of conscience, which are core Vatican 11 teachings at the heart of our identity as Catholics. Sadly, women, who are half of the membership of the church are not deemed worthy to serve at the altar while pedophiles and the bishops who protected them remain in ministry with full support.

The good news is that Roman Catholic Womenpriests are living prophetic obedience to the Spirit and disobeying an unjust law that discriminates against women. Roman Catholic Womenpriests, who are validly ordained in apostolic succession, are reclaiming our sacred tradition. According to historical research, women deacons, priests and bishops, served the church for twelve hundred years. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are here to stay and already serving in vibrant communities in the U.S. Canada and Europe. Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP