Wow! Could they possibly send a stronger statement than this?
Thirty-Four Chilean Bishops have tendered their resignations to the Pope over a child sex abuse scandal that has rocked the nation.
For those unfamiliar, the crisis was precipitated by the appointment of this guy as bishop:
This week’s meeting followed a Vatican investigation into Bishop Juan Barros, who was appointed by the pope in 2015 despite allegations that he had covered up sexual abuse of minors by his mentor, Father Fernando Karadima.
Now 87 and living in a nursing home in Chile, Karadima has always denied the allegations. Barros has said he was unaware of any wrongdoing.
However, a Vatican source confirmed on Friday a report by Chile’s T13 television that the pope had handed the bishops a document accusing them of destroying evidence of sex crimes and of failing to protect children from predator priests.
The document said the church hierarchy was collectively to blame for serious lapses in handling the abuse cases.
Source: Reuters
The former bishop’s response to the abuse scandals has been contentious for seventeen years.
During the visit, Pope Francis had staunchly defended Barros, denouncing accusations against him as “slander” until proven otherwise.
But days after returning to Rome, the pope, citing new information, sent sexual abuse investigator Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta to Chile to speak to victims, witnesses and other Church members.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Vatican quoted the pope as saying the four days of meetings this week had been “frank” and had covered “painful events regarding abuses – of minors, of power and of conscience”.
Source: Reuters
Standing on principle in defense of the vulnerable.
Good on them.
Will they really walk if change doesn't happen?
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