Pope makes 'extraordinary' apology in sex-abuse cases
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict has made an extraordinary apology.
The pope told victims of sexual abuse "I am truly sorry." His pastoral letter was the first statement of its kind by the Vatican on the sexual abuse of children. However, many are saying it does not go far enough.
This move follows several publicized cases in the Portland area, where boys in the church have come out as adults to say they were sexually abused. In 2006, a federal bankruptcy judge even ruled the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland could not be forced to liquidate its $36 million trust fund to pay claims resulting from any sexual abuse lawsuits against priests.
To the victims of abuse in Ireland, the pope wrote: "You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry."
Dermot Ryan, now 81, has come out as one of those victims, saying he was molested as a 9-year-old boy at his Catholic school in Dublin. He said he told no one at the time, because "no one would listen."
"The power of the priests is part of the fabric of being," Dermot Ryan told ABC.
Pope Benedict criticized the abuse of that power Saturday. To those who hurt children – and those who covered it up – he wrote: "You must answer for it before Almighty God, and before properly constituted tribunals."
He also accused them of having "...a misplaced concern for the reputation of the church and the avoidance* of scandal."
Cardinal Sean Brady is one of those who covered up the scandal. He has apologized for failing to report a notorious abuser to police.
"I welcome this letter...," Brady said.
The letter does not call for Brady or any other church official to resign.
And while the pope announced a new investigation of the abuse in Ireland, he did not mention other scandals around the world, including in the pope's native Germany.
Benedict himself has been touched by that scandal. As an archbishop he was accused of sending a pedophile priest for counseling instead of to the police. That priest went on to abuse more children.