Pope apologises to clerical child abuse victims

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

'I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes,' Benedict tells Catholic service in London -

John Hooper, Saturday 18 September 2010 11.25 BST -

Pope Benedict XVI this morning returned to the issue of sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests, saying their crimes were "unspeakable" and that the entire Roman Catholic church felt "shame and humiliation".

In his address at the most solemn Catholic service of his four-day visit, in Westminster cathedral, he spoke of the sufferings of "all those individual Christians who daily unite their sacrifices to those of the Lord for the sanctification of the church and the redemption of the world". He mentioned the sick and the handicapped.

But then he added: "Here too I think of the immense suffering caused by the abuse of children, especially within the church and by her ministers. Above all, I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes. I also acknowledge, with you, the shame and humiliation which all of us have suffered because of these sins; and I invite you to offer it to the Lord with trust that this chastisement will contribute to the healing of the victims and the purification of the church and the renewal of her age-old commitment to the education and care of young people."

=snip=

The comments come amid speculation that the pope will come face to face with victims of abuse at some point today. His timetable for tomorrow, the last day of his visit, is pretty full as he travels from London to Birmingham. Abuse victims will be among those taking part in a protest march this afternoon in Hyde Park in opposition to the pope's visit.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/18/pope-apologises-clerical-child-sex-abuse

[Kolesar]

1. "This chastisement", like those Irish orphans who were beaten and buggered

Ok, this is one of my low-quality posts

[ixion]

2. Oh, well, that makes it all better... not

Not in any way.

[Texifornia]

3. Tell ya w3hat Ratzo...

Confess your roll as leader of an international child rape ring and offer yourself to authorities for incarceration for the rest of your (un)natural life and then we can talk about appropriate chastisement.

[AngryOldDem]

8. What more do you want him to do???

I mean, he said he was SORRY.

:sarcasm:

Really, if he was so intent and sincere on cleaning up this mess, he would demand resignations of all bishops who knew of the abuse, and furthermore, allow the authorities to fully investigate his organization and take appropriate action. He'd muck out his stables. If it were any other entity, nothing less than that would be acceptable. He's offered so many half-hearted apologies so many times without backing them up with any kind of meaningful action that to me it's insulting to the survivors and their families. He doesn't mean what he says. He's just saying it because he "has to."

Part of confession is penance, unless (I guess) you're part of the corporate RCC.

[Iowa]

16. Yep... Here's the line from the article that really showcases his mindset:

Pope Benedict XVI this morning returned to the issue of sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests, saying their crimes were "unspeakable" and that the entire Roman Catholic church felt "shame and humiliation".

Notice how he refers to, "their crimes"; instead of "our crimes". This is a classic narcissistic/sociopathic tactic designed to deflect blame.

And notice his reference to these crimes being "unspeakable" - as in "sweep it under a rug and ignore it"... or as in Barbara Bushes infamous line, "Why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that"? Ratzinger is so completely narcissistic, that he hasn't learned a thing. By his words and actions it is clear that he will continue to aid and abet the sexual abuse of children.

And notice how he says that "the entire Roman Catholic church feels 'shame and humiliation' ". This is another manipulative ploy that is commonly utilized by sociopaths to deflect blame away from themselves. If you break this particular manipulation down, there are several things he is trying to do here:
1) He wants the audience to believe that they are as culpable as him. "We're all in this together". But that's blatantly false. The abusers are culpable. The hierarchy is culpable. And perhaps the most culpable of all is Ratzinger himself.
2) If Catholics can be made to feel even the slightest amount of "shame and humiliation", they're less likely to show up with torches and pitchforks. They'll be more likely to "look forward", not backward.
3) Notice how he throws it out as if it is settled fact, when it clearly isn't. No Catholic I know feels "shame and humiliation" due to Ratzinger's crimes. Anger, yes. Shame, no.
4) He's trying to dilute his culpability - to hide in a crowd.

Ratzinger is a classic sociopath; this is glaringly obvious. All Catholics should withhold every nickel of support. As long as the money continues to pour in, the crimes will continue.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. "My employees have raped your kids, sorry 'bout that...now

let me continue castigating your nation for not bowing to me and my employees."
Not only is he pure evil, he can not carry off the costume and trappings at all, he looks like a giant fool and the Papacy looks like some Mardi Gras float gone over the top. He was lousy casting for Pope, he looks and sneering and contempuous as his Chruch's worst actions, he seems an embodiment of all that is fetid in his organization or company, whatever the right word is for a commercial churcherprise involving rape and fraud.

[Stevenmarc]

5. He forgot to add that this only covers victims pre 16th century.....

we will be working diligently to catch up on our "deep sorrow"

[disndat]

6. This is centuries of world wide tragedy.

It looks like there is no end.

[AlbertCat]

7. innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes

Oh they are speakable all right.

Child abuse


duping millions that you have some kind of authority based on stone age and bronze age make believe.

Inciting fear and guilt.


lots more....

[pattmarty]

9. Then you should resign you piece of shit motherfucker.

[KansDem]

10. I surprised he didn't try to blame it on atheists and non-believers.

Seems like these groups are always on his shit-list.

Hey, Pope! How about putting your pedophile priests, along with the bishops and cardinals who enabled then, in prison for several years?

What makes you and your ilk so special?

[LongTomH]

11. In other news.............Pope's Astronomer says pontiff would baptize alien.

No, that's not from Weekly world News, it's from the Guardian UK. Dr. Guy Consolmagno, who is also Father Guy Consolmagno, of the Vatican Observatory, says aliens may have souls and could be baptized.

Speaking ahead of a talk at the British Science Festival in Birmingham tomorrow, he said that the traditional definition of a soul was to have intelligence, free will, freedom to love and freedom to make decisions. "Any entity – no matter how many tentacles it has – has a soul." Would he baptise an alien? "Only if they asked."

Okay, where's that Grey Alien mask from last Halloween? :rofl:

Actually, there's a serious side to this and I think I'll start a thread in GD on it. Dr. Guy Consolmagno has contributed to a number of astronomy and astrobiology publications and websites.

[Politicub]

12. Pope: "Sorry that the rape cover up scheme didn't work. Sucks for you."

:puke:

[Turborama]

13. Pope Meets Victims Of Church Child Abuse

Jon di Paolo, Sky News Online

The Pope has expressed his "deep sorrow and shame" in a meeting with five victims of sex abuse by members of the Catholic Church, the Vatican said.

The meeting, which took place at the home of the Vatican's Ambassador to the UK in Wimbledon, London, lasted between 30 and 40 minutes.

A statement from the Holy See said the Pope had prayed with the victims and assured them that the Catholic Church is "continuing to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people".

Three of the victims at the private meeting were from Yorkshire, one from London and one from Scotland.

One of the victims is understood to have suffered the abuse in an Irish institution.

Full article: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Pope-Meets-Child-Abuse-Victims-After-Making-Apology-During-Westminster-Cathedral-Mass/Article/201009315733844?lpos=UK_News_News_Your_Way_Region_5&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15733844_Pope_Meets_Child_Abuse_Victims_After_Making_Apology_During_Westminster_Cathedral_Mass

[Iggo]

14. Amends, not apologies.

[totodeinhere]

15. Too Little, too late. n/t

[laconicsax]

17. Crimes so unspeakable he wrote a letter banning anyone from speaking about it.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23369148-pope-led-cover-up-of-child-abuse-by-priests.do
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/aug/17/religion.childprotection

[LAGC]

18. Some day the position of Pope won't be there any more.

The Catholic Church will just be over. That day can't come soon enough...

[Brickbat]

19. "Offer it to the Lord"?

Oh, FFS. Don't get me started. Just...don't.