In a letter to the Irish faithful read across Europe amid a growing, multination abuse scandal, the pope apologized to victims but doled out no specific punishments to bishops blamed by Irish government-ordered investigations for having covered up abuse of thousands of Irish children from the 1930s to the 1990s.
Ireland’s main group of clerical-abuse victims, One in Four, said it was deeply disappointed by the letter because it failed to place responsibility with the Vatican for what it called a “deliberate policy of the Catholic Church at the highest levels to protect sex offenders, thereby endangering children.”
“If the church cannot acknowledge this fundamental truth, it is still in denial,” the group said.
The letter directly addressed only Ireland, but the Vatican said it could be read as applying to other countries. Hundreds of new allegations of abuse have recently come to light across Europe, including in the pope’s native Germany, where he served as archbishop in a diocese where several victims have recently come forward.
“You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry,” Benedict said, addressing himself to Irish Catholics who suffered “sinful and criminal” abuse at the hands of priests, brothers and nuns and a botched response by their superiors.
“It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the church,” he said. “In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel.”
Benedict used his harshest words for the abusers themselves, saying they had betrayed the trust of the faithful, brought shame on the church and now must answer before God and civil authorities.
“Conceal nothing,” he exhorted them. “Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God’s mercy.”
Benedict faulted their superiors, the Irish bishops, for having failed “sometimes grievously” to apply the church’s own law which calls for harsh punishments for child abusers, including defrocking priests.
