TOP OFFICIAL SAYS CHURCH MUST STOP ‘WEAK EXCUSES’

ROME One of Pope Francis’ top advisers warned Friday the Catholic Church risks increased police and government intervention if it doesn’t address the clergy sex abuse scandal with system-wide reforms about the way power and sexuality are expressed.

German Cardinal Reinhard Marx told a conference on child protection the church’s “weak excuses” to dismiss, minimize or cover up the rape and molestation of children were no longer acceptable to the faithful.

Marx welcomed public pressure to force reforms, and said the church must have a “frank discussion” about abuse of power among its leaders, and homosexuality, celibacy and training for priests, among other issues, if it wants to emerge from the crisis and regain its lost credibility.