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Saturday, July 12, 2008 | Reason : In the News | print version Print | Comments

Document Pope confirms sexual abuse apology

by ABC News

Thanks to Linda Ward Selbie for the link.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/12/2302086.htm

Pope confirms sexual abuse apology

Pope Benedict XVI says he will use his visit to Australia, which starts today, to apologise for sexual abuse by Australian priests.

The Pope told reporters on his plane heading to Australia that the Catholic Church had to prevent, heal and reconcile, and added that the function of being a priest was incompatible with sexual abuse.

He said he would make similar comments to those during a trip to the United States in April, when he made apology for sexual abuse a major part of his visit.

"It is essential for the Church to reconcile, to prevent, to help and to see guilt in this problem," he said.

"It must be clear ... that being a real priest is incompatible with this (sexual abuse) because priests are in the service of our Lord."

The papal flight will land at Darwin airport this morning for refuelling. It will then continue onto the RAAF airbase at Richmond in Sydney's north-west, where it is due to touch down about 3:00pm (AEST).

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, NSW Premier Morris Iemma, and church officials including Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell will be there to greet him.

The Pope will then be taken to a private retreat centre at Kenthurst where he will relax for the next three days.

On Thursday afternoon he will sail into Sydney Harbour onboard a cruiser before disembarking at Barangaroo at east Darling Harbour for his official welcoming ceremony.

World Youth Day officials say they expect more than 200,000 people to turn out for the event.

Previous apology
Australian bishops issued an apology for past abuses in 2002 and Cardinal Pell made it clear that papal comments on the issue would be "a welcome contribution".

"I think it would be appropriate for the Pope to say something on that score," he said.

World Youth Day coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher says the Pope wants to make it clear that sexual abuse has no place in the Catholic Church.

"Well I certainly hope that it's part of an ongoing process of our work at doing the right thing in this difficult area and that for some of the individuals who've been hurt, that it will be part of the healing process," he said.

"Many of the victims will be heartened by the Holy Father's frankness about this, his willingness to confront it and his encouragement to the leaders of the church and the members of the church to do the right thing."

The WYD celebrations have already been partly overshadowed by the launch on Friday of an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against an Australian priest.

The investigation will centre on allegations from former religious education teacher Anthony Jones that a priest, Father Terence Goodall, sexually abused him in 1982.

Cardinal Pell has ordered a church-appointed panel to investigate the claims.

In a 2003 letter obtained by ABC TV's Lateline, Cardinal Pell told Mr Jones an internal report did not support his accusation of attempted aggravated sexual assault, even though the report had in fact accepted all of Mr Jones's allegations.

Thousands expected
WYD organisers said they expected thousands more pilgrims to arrive in Sydney overnight and said they had seen a generous response to pleas for warm clothes and blankets to be donated to international pilgrims.

Pilgrims from poorer African countries have been arriving without warm clothes needed to cope with the colder nights.

Catholic Education Office spokesman Mark Rix says hundreds more blankets and jumpers are needed over the next two days.

"Certainly we got some today and that's eased the situation," he said.

"But we're expecting .... many more to arrive tonight from and from other similar sort of locations that those that arrived without the the necessary warmth today so ... we think that by tomorrow that the need will probably be at the same point as it was."

Comments 1 - 50 of 74 |

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1. Comment #209631 by 8teist on July 12, 2008 at 10:09 pm

 avatar"and added that the function of being a priest was incompatible with sexual abuse."

Oh really? does it say that in the bible?



quote mining ,I know ,but if it`s good enough for the 2 clears,ertu and joe it`s good enough for me.

Other Comments by 8teist

2. Comment #209634 by dom1234 on July 12, 2008 at 10:24 pm

"and added that the function of being a priest was incompatible with sexual abuse."

So if I understand, sexual abuse is only incompatible for priests?

Other Comments by dom1234

3. Comment #209637 by Roy_H on July 12, 2008 at 10:30 pm

 avatar'Pope Benedict XVI says he will use his visit to Australia, which starts today, to apologise for sexual abuse by Australian priests.'
Oh that's OK then, I am sure the victims will feel much better after hearing that news..... not! Talk about "empty words"

Other Comments by Roy_H

4. Comment #209639 by Nik on July 12, 2008 at 10:32 pm

He's landing in Darwin airport?

Haha that's awesome!

Other Comments by Nik

5. Comment #209640 by Grantaire of JC on July 12, 2008 at 10:33 pm

Too little too late! The Pope may make all the apologies he wants, but as the article pointed out with the 2003 letter, the machine is in place. And to bring up this subject while World Youth Day is just creepy! If he was sincere, the conversations would have taken place without the press's knowledge. Why does he have to make sure the world knows that he's responding to the issue?

Other Comments by Grantaire of JC

6. Comment #209641 by mordacious1 on July 12, 2008 at 10:37 pm

I don't suppose he's bringing his checkbook.

Other Comments by mordacious1

7. Comment #209643 by 8teist on July 12, 2008 at 10:40 pm

 avatarIn a 2003 letter obtained by ABC TV's Lateline, Cardinal Pell told Mr Jones an internal report did not support his accusation of attempted aggravated sexual assault, even though the report had in fact accepted all of Mr Jones's allegations.




lying for jesus? what fine upstanding citizens,what great role models and the sheeple still grovel at their feet ,all is forgiven just to get in the pearly gates ,..........pathetic....

Other Comments by 8teist

8. Comment #209645 by irate_atheist on July 12, 2008 at 10:50 pm

 avatar6. Comment #209641 by mordacious1 -
I don't suppose he's bringing his checkbook.
No. That's more a Free Church of Scotland habit.

Other Comments by irate_atheist

9. Comment #209650 by TIKI AL on July 12, 2008 at 11:52 pm

I wonder if Father Guido Sarducci will be manning the "Finda da Popes ina da Pizza" booth?

Other Comments by TIKI AL

10. Comment #209651 by GordonYKWong on July 12, 2008 at 11:55 pm

 avatarI know Pell kinda apologise for some of the abuses, and Darth Ratty have a general blanket apology for every abuse of every kind from 1500 to the end of eternity, but would it be too much to ask for an apology from god itself?

I know he is really busy and all, ignoring suffering and helping the local sport club U13s to win the championship, but surely an omnipotent being can spare some time to apologise for the actions of some of his representatives.

If no apologises is forthcoming does that means:
  • He doesn't care.
  • He approves of the abuse and long may they continue.
  • He does not exist.
Occam's Razor, anyone?

Other Comments by GordonYKWong

11. Comment #209655 by geru on July 13, 2008 at 12:08 am

"It is essential for the Church to reconcile, to prevent, to help and to see guilt in this problem,"


How convenient that the Catholic church advertises itself as a provider of spiritual services and healing, and at the same time it's employees perform shocking amounts of sexual abuse, that emotionally cripples entire families for life.

It's kinda like the ultimate business model: 1. Cause problem, 2. Offer solution, 3. Profit. And they sure have profited...

Other Comments by geru

12. Comment #209659 by Enlightenme.. on July 13, 2008 at 12:27 am

 avatarThey've temporarily enacted a new law against offending Catholic pilgrims, specifically targeted against a pressure group who want to hand out free condoms in protest.

In other news, the openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson comes to Britain, by special invite of some uppity liberals. This is while the Lambeth conference is on (he's temporarily persona-non-grata) which will wind up the CofE conservatives no end :) especially a Dr Christopher Knight, who appeared on breakfast news sporting a hilarious Ken Ham style 'Noah' beard.

Other Comments by Enlightenme..

13. Comment #209660 by HitbLade on July 13, 2008 at 12:36 am

"It must be clear ... that being a real priest is incompatible with this (sexual abuse) because priests are in the service of our Lord."

Why are they always (supposed to be) good because of God? Why can't they just be good, simply for goodness sake? It seems to me they are just kissing their god's ass while dreaming of genocide and rape.

Other Comments by HitbLade

14. Comment #209664 by Johan on July 13, 2008 at 1:04 am

Pope Benedict XVI says he will use his visit to Australia, which starts today, to apologise for sexual abuse by Australian priests.


Why don't the priests apologise themselfs. Just another proof that religion is at odds with liberalism and individualism.

Other Comments by Johan

15. Comment #209665 by Atheist Chaplain on July 13, 2008 at 1:05 am

 avatar"It must be clear ... that being a real priest is incompatible with this (sexual abuse) because priests are in the service of our Lord."

And yet the Catholic Church still actively hides such priests from the Law and has in the past even gone to the extent of moving them to the Vatican and resisting ALL efforts to extradite them back to the countries where their crimes have taken place.
Remembering that the majority of these crimes have taken place against other persons of the male persuasion, would the Vatican now internally resemble "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" ??

Other Comments by Atheist Chaplain

16. Comment #209666 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 1:07 am

It must be clear ... that being a real priest is incompatible with this (sexual abuse) because priests are in the service of our Lord.

No true Scotsman?

Other Comments by Brian English

17. Comment #209667 by appaZ on July 13, 2008 at 1:11 am

" No child's behind left! " Hitch was right on the money. Who here would be genually surprized if a thorough investigation and supporting statistics showed there to be double digit percentage of catholic priests were in fact practicing CHILD MOLESTERS. In Australia, we are all well aware of the frequency of this. I wish they would forget about apologizing and just do something about it. History has shown that an internal investigation is about as useful as a cup of cold water when it comes to the church. There were soooooooo many quotes in that article that made me sick to my stomach

"Well I certainly hope that it's part of an ongoing process of our work at doing the right thing in this difficult area and that for some of the individuals who've been hurt, that it will be part of the healing process," he said

DIFFICULT AREA!!!!......What the!!!!.....He is talking about the systemactic rape of children, sanctioned by that stupid organization of which he is part.

I need a beer.

Other Comments by appaZ

18. Comment #209668 by Laurie Fraser on July 13, 2008 at 1:20 am

 avatarWill be at the big demo on the 19th - annoying catlicks, asking questions, mooning the pope, that sort of thing. Come and join the fun, fellow Aussies.

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

19. Comment #209670 by PaulJ on July 13, 2008 at 1:21 am

 avatar
...and added that the function of being a priest was incompatible with sexual abuse.
Just in case you thought, you know, that it wasn't incompatible....

Other Comments by PaulJ

20. Comment #209672 by 8teist on July 13, 2008 at 1:27 am

 avatarGday Laurie, I`ve got a couple of nieces heading over to see ratty, so you just behave yourself please.

Other Comments by 8teist

21. Comment #209673 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 1:30 am

I'll be in Fiji on the 19th. So, moon the Pope for me Laurie thanks. :)

Other Comments by Brian English

22. Comment #209674 by DamnDirtyApe on July 13, 2008 at 1:36 am

 avatar*Looks for 'Terrible Lie' and 'Heresy' by nine inch nails in his playlist...

Other Comments by DamnDirtyApe

23. Comment #209675 by TIKI AL on July 13, 2008 at 1:41 am

If god is so powerful why did he not smite the offenders pre bugger and save the church some money?

Other Comments by TIKI AL

24. Comment #209676 by Bonzai on July 13, 2008 at 1:41 am

Jesus said, "Don't stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of the kingdom of God."

Better run if you are a child and hear that in a Catholic sermon.

Sorry, I know that is in bad taste, but can't help it :(

Other Comments by Bonzai

25. Comment #209679 by Laurie Fraser on July 13, 2008 at 1:47 am

 avatar8teist,
I`ve got a couple of nieces heading over to see ratty, so you just behave yourself please.


Sorry mate - if they get in the firing line, they'll just have to take their chances

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

26. Comment #209681 by gobbles on July 13, 2008 at 2:00 am

I'm really considering rocking up with a couple of my mates on the 19th, drunk, and doing everything we can to piss off him and everyone else. to bad i live in a country that locks people up for annoying overrated people. at least australia is pretty non-religious, and most of us won't be overly happy about the idea of spending tax on this sort of thing, and thus enjoy the sight of people protesting. it will be just like apec all over again...

Other Comments by gobbles

27. Comment #209682 by mmurray on July 13, 2008 at 2:03 am

 avatarAnd the demo's begin

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24012684-5005962,00.html

Michael

Other Comments by mmurray

28. Comment #209683 by ridelo on July 13, 2008 at 2:12 am

Pilgrims from poorer African countries have been arriving without warm clothes needed to cope with the colder nights.

Being poor I would know better than investing my money in travelling around the world in order to see a pope.

Other Comments by ridelo

29. Comment #209688 by Logicel on July 13, 2008 at 2:36 am

 avatarThe function of a priest and the carte blanche that his flock renders to him, makes the function of a priest completely compatible with sexual abuse.

While Catholics would be quite wary in other realms regarding possible sexual child abuse, they throw out their caution without thought when dealing within their religious circles. There would be no Church if there were no followers.

Though the Pope is a bastard, the Catholic Church a fetid swamp of stupid rigidity and inanity, mind-boggling arrogance, and disgusting disregard for life and liberty, there are people who cleave to this farcial organization. Certainly they have been brainwashed, but they do live in the real world and have rational abilities, and yet 17% of the world's population go on bleating about their nonsense.

All the Catholics are to me, are role models on what not to do. And since there are many others who fit that bill, the Catholics are not even special in that regard, and yes, they do so want to be special and in tune with the unchanging, absolute truth. So very boring and so very useless. Not to mention mega stupid and mega fail.

Other Comments by Logicel

30. Comment #209690 by Vaal on July 13, 2008 at 2:42 am

 avatarWell, well, so Pope Ratty is going to Darwin is he?
Wonder if he tries to bless the water by a river.

That would be in interesting photograph, the popes legs sticking out of a crocodiles mouth, with his pravda red slippers being the last to be gulped down. I wonder how the Church would interpret that? Ratty hasn't been answering his hotline?

Other Comments by Vaal

31. Comment #209693 by Shuggy on July 13, 2008 at 3:04 am

 avatarBanzai:
Jesus said, "Don't stop children from coming to me!
Oh, a modernist. An older generation knows "Suffer little children to come unto me." Seems strangely fitting, these days.

Other Comments by Shuggy

32. Comment #209694 by Laurie Fraser on July 13, 2008 at 3:07 am

 avatarRatty's left Darwin, Vaal, and has just landed at the Richmond Air Force base, not 5 kilometres from where I live. I felt a metaphysical swoon as his plane swooped across the sky on its landing run. He's off to an Opus Dei retreat a few miles up the road, before beginning his mission, which will include the big apology. What a load of fucking nonsense.

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

33. Comment #209695 by GoodbyeGodNZ on July 13, 2008 at 3:19 am

 avatarSo .... Benny the chief buggerer touches down in Oz for another round of apologies for decades of buggery of young colonial lads by his flock leaders .... so fuckin what?

Other Comments by GoodbyeGodNZ

34. Comment #209696 by Telic on July 13, 2008 at 3:27 am

 avatarComment #209668 by Laurie Fraser


... mooning the Pope, that sort of thing. ...



Mmm, well he normally just kisses the ground when he lands, but maybe he'll have time for just one more sin before he apologises, you big tease you.

Other Comments by Telic

35. Comment #209697 by 8teist on July 13, 2008 at 3:28 am

 avatarOpus dei ,what are christs flagellaters doing in your neck of the woods Laurie? Have they got a S&M club overthere?

Other Comments by 8teist

36. Comment #209699 by cruth on July 13, 2008 at 3:31 am

 avatarJust been watching Ratty arriving on 'Shepherd one' on the news. Looks like some of his 'sheep' could do with a bit more wool. Good luck with the various protests for those living on the east coast.

Other Comments by cruth

37. Comment #209700 by rod-the-farmer on July 13, 2008 at 3:31 am

 avatar

"It is essential for the Church to reconcile, to prevent, to help and to see guilt in this problem,"

I do not see anything here, nor have I ever heard, on the use of the word "punish".

Other Comments by rod-the-farmer

38. Comment #209705 by Laurie Fraser on July 13, 2008 at 4:17 am

 avatar8teist, Opus Dei is big over here. Most of the NSW Liberal Party (read "Tories", for UK posters), by all accounts, are members. They'll be whippin' 'emselves into a frenzy tonight, mate. Just hope they're not too sore in the morning to get into some ecclesiastical orgy-making.

P.S. Came across the following edifying limerick the other day:

There once was a bishop from Birmingham
Who buggered young boys while confirming 'em
When they knelt to praise God,
He'd whip out his rod,
And pump his episcopal sperm in 'em.

*gets cloak*

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

39. Comment #209710 by L.Minnik on July 13, 2008 at 4:31 am

A documentary "Sex Crimes And The Vatican"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=avtpm2UE3Kk

Just an apology from the pope will not change anything.

Other Comments by L.Minnik

40. Comment #209711 by DoctorE on July 13, 2008 at 4:31 am

 avatarI can only imagine how the victims of priests will feel when the creator of rules to hide child molesters within the church gets royal welcome, thats just sick.
The pope is a criminal on so many levels, he should be thrown in jail

Sex crimes & the Vatican
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3335354490744010763&q=sex crimes and vatican&total=97&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2

Other Comments by DoctorE

41. Comment #209713 by kaph on July 13, 2008 at 4:38 am

 avatarThis from the BBC:

Pope Benedict will close his trip by presiding over an open-air Mass on 20 July at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.
The Pope's visit - his ninth outside Italy - has created controversy with demonstrators vowing to protest against the Church's stand on homosexuality and birth control.
In response, authorities in the state of New South Wales have introduced new laws bringing the threat of heavy fines to anyone causing annoyance to pilgrims.
(emphasis added)

So if you "annoy" these people, they fine you. Brilliant.

Other Comments by kaph

42. Comment #209716 by Laurie Fraser on July 13, 2008 at 4:42 am

 avatarOh yeah, kaph - we're going to be arrested for the crime of "annoyance". That's why I hope as many of us as possible get arrested, because it deserves to be taken all the way to the High Court of Australia.

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

43. Comment #209719 by Vaal on July 13, 2008 at 5:05 am

 avatarLaurie

Don't the Maori's consider showing their bottoms as a sign of protest? I would like to see the Ozzie's emulate it.

That would be a cracker!

Other Comments by Vaal

44. Comment #209721 by Laurie Fraser on July 13, 2008 at 5:21 am

 avatarCome on, Vaal - we Aussies have been mooning in protest for yonks. I've never actually done it, myself, but now the pope's here, what better time to start?

Bottoms up!

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

45. Comment #209722 by Android on July 13, 2008 at 5:25 am

 avatarDamnDirtyApe - "*Looks for 'Terrible Lie' and 'Heresy' by nine inch nails in his playlist..."

rofl - mind you 'Capital G' isn't a bad song for this sort of occasion.

Other Comments by Android

46. Comment #209723 by Bonzai on July 13, 2008 at 5:36 am

Laurie

Come on, Vaal - we Aussies have been mooning in protest for yonks. I've never actually done it, myself, but now the pope's here, what better time to start?

Bottoms up!


Just make sure you don't have any young male in your mooning brigade. May give the Priests a hard on, you know. :(

Other Comments by Bonzai

47. Comment #209725 by Laurie Fraser on July 13, 2008 at 5:45 am

 avatarWell, they'd be real sad fucks if they were tempted by this old bastard!

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

48. Comment #209726 by Bonzai on July 13, 2008 at 5:49 am

Don't sell yourself short.:)

Other Comments by Bonzai

49. Comment #209727 by steveroot on July 13, 2008 at 5:54 am

 avatar
38. Comment #209705 by Laurie Fraser on July 13, 2008 at 4:17 am

P.S. Came across the following edifying limerick the other day:

Here's another one for grins:
"A lovely young nun from Siberia
was blessed with a virgin interior
'til a crusty old monk jumped into her bunk
and now she's the Mother Superior"

Ste5e

Other Comments by steveroot

50. Comment #209731 by Dhamma on July 13, 2008 at 6:05 am

 avatar
and added that the function of being a priest was incompatible with sexual abuse.


Oh, jolly good! If priests are prohibited from sexual abuse, does that mean it's okey for the rest of us?

If he must tell them they're not allowed to sexually abuse anyone, he really must have very low thoughts of his priests!

Other Comments by Dhamma
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