Pope’s words leave abuse survivors dissatisfied

DUBLIN: Pope Francis said yesterday he shared the ‘‘pain and shame’’ of the Catholic Church over its failure to adequately address the sexual abuse of young people by clerics.

The Pope said in a speech at Dublin Castle that ‘‘bishops, religious superiors, priests and others to adequately address these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community.’’

‘‘I myself share those sentiments,’’ said Pope Francis, who was warned by Irish politicians and clergy before his visit to take action against those involved in child sexual abuse.

Francis praised predecessor Pope Benedict’s efforts to deal with the clerical abuse crisis as an act of ‘‘frank and decisive intervention.’’

Advocates for Irish abuse survivors rejected the remarks as an act of deflection.

Amnesty Ireland executive director Colm O’Gorman said on Twitter the Pope ‘‘had the perfect opportunity to address the abuse issue . . . . Once again, he refused to do so. Worse yet, we got extraordinary deflection.’’

The Pope did not acknowledge ‘‘the proven truth of the Vatican’s role in the coverup of crimes perpetrated against so many people here’’ in Ireland, but instead referred to the ‘‘pain and shame for the Catholic community,’’ O’Gorman said.

Maeve Lewis, executive director of the victims’ group One in Four, said: ‘‘Survivors are weary of apologies that are not followed up with real action. How hard would it be for the Pope to announce a policy of mandatory reporting of all allegations to the civil authorities across the world?’’

The Pope arrived on Saturday to begin his twoday visit to Ireland — the first papal trip in 39 years — which has been beset by controversy. Abuse survivors planned protests to coincide with the papal Mass yesterday.

A The Pope had a meeting with eight victims of abuse at the hands of the Catholic clergy on Saturday.

The Pope’s closeddoor meeting with abuse survivors lasted 90 minutes, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said.

During the meeting in Dublin, the Argentinian Pope described those who cover up child abuse as ‘‘caca’’, which the interpreter politely translated as ‘‘filth you would see in the toilet’’. — DPA/AAP

PHOTO: REUTERS Reaching out . . . Pope Francis waves as he leaves after attending the Festival of Families at Croke Park during his visit to Dublin, on Saturday.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Still angry . . . A protester holds up a sign in Dublin, on Saturday.