Pope vows to bring ‘wrath of God’ on church paedophiles
POPE FRANCIS concluded a landmark Vatican summit on clerical sex abuse yesterday by pledging to bring the “wrath of God” upon clergy who abuse children and likening paedophilia to “human sacrifice”.
“We must deliver justice to whoever did this and never try to cover up any case,” Pope Francis told the 190 cardinals, bishops and participants gathered for the unprecedented four-day Vatican summit on the clerical sexual abuse crisis that has dogged the Roman Catholic Church for decades.
“The echo of the silent cry of the little ones, who, instead of finding in them fathers and spiritual guides, encountered tormentors, will shake hearts dulled by hypocrisy and power.”
However, support groups for victims of clerical sexual abuse said Pope Francis had lost a unique, high-profile opportunity for momentous change, instead opting for empty promises and “meaningless” reflection points.
His references to the devil and emphasis on the fact that the Church was not the only place children were abused particularly rankled.
Describing predatory priests as “tools of Satan”, the Pope said paedophilia was “a widespread phenomenon in all cultures and societies”. He said: “I am reminded of the cruel religious practice, once widespread in certain cultures, of sacrificing human beings – frequently children – in pagan rites.”
“Honestly, it’s a pastoral ‘blah-blah’, saying it’s the fault of the devil,” said Jean-marie Furbringer, a Swiss victim.
The summit concluded yesterday with the celebration of a mass, during which Mark Coleridge, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, urged swift implementation of change. “A mission stretches before us – a mission demanding not just words but real concrete action,” he said.
In his closing remarks after mass, the 82-year-old Pope called for a full-scale battle against the scourge of sexual abuse, urging the “great majority of priests” who are not abusers and who feel dishonoured by the crimes of others to embrace an institutional change in mentality.
Summit participants heard shocking revelations from the Church hierarchy about destruction of evidence, failure to report crimes and cover-ups of the scandals in countries across the globe, including Chile, Germany, Ireland, Australia and the US.
Victims’ advocacy and survivor groups said they were disappointed by the pontiff’s failure to announce any concrete measures.
Peter Saunders, a British victim who stepped down from a special commission on child protection out of frustration with the lack of progress and support, said: “The Pope had a unique opportunity with the eyes of the world on him, to write into canon law that any priest or clergy who has been convicted or credibly accused must be removed from the priestly state forever.
“Likewise, any bishop, cardinal or church official who covers up for these crimes must be removed. Otherwise the Church is still failing children across the world.”
Veronica Openibo, a Nigerian nun, scolded the cardinals and bishops for inaction, asking: “Why did we keep silent so long?”