Church must keep up guard versus pedophilia: Pope
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict, who meets Irish bishops next week over a pedophilia scandal involving priests, said the Roman Catholic church must keep its guard up against those who violate the rights of children.
Addressing participants of a Vatican conference on protecting childhood, Benedict acknowledged that “unfortunately, in a number of cases, some of its (the Church) members acted in contrast to this commitment”.
Benedict will meet bishops from Irish dioceses to discuss the Murphy Commission Report, a damning indictment of child sex abuse by priests in Irealand which has already led to the resignation of two Irish bishops.
Released in late November, the government report said Church leaders in overwhelmingly Catholic Ireland had covered up widespread abuse of children by priests for 30 years.
In his address on Monday, Benedict said Jesus’ harsh words in the Bible about those who harm children “should commit everyone to never lowering the level of respect and love”……
