Pope apologizes for clergy abuse

At World Youth Day gathering, pontiff stresses religious unity

Associated Press

July 19, 2008

SYDNEY, Australia - Pope Benedict XVI apologized today to victims of child sex abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, describing those acts as "evil" and a grave betrayal of trust.

"I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country," Pope Benedict said during an address at a Mass in Australia.

"I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured. I assure them as their pastor that I, too, share in their suffering."

He said those responsible for these "evils must be brought to justice."

Support groups for victims of church abuse in Australia, whose numbers are not known but who activists say are in the thousands, had demanded the pope make a full and open apology for clergy abuse and do more to prevent future abuse.

The pontiff is in Australia to lead hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in the church's World Youth Day, a celebration meant to inspire a new generation of Catholics.

There was no immediate word on whether the pope would meet with victims of clergy abuse, as he did during his trip to the United States in April, when he also expressed his shame for the scandal.

Yesterday, the 81-year-old pontiff told representatives of Islam and other faiths that they must unite to combat religion's role in "sinister and indiscriminate" violence.

Without mentioning terrorism directly, Pope Benedict said there were those in who were using religion "as a cause of division rather than a force for unity," during a 40-minute exchange with Australian Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist leaders in Sydney.

"In a world threatened by sinister and indiscriminate forms of violence, the unified voice of religious people urges nations and communities to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and with full regard for human dignity," he told the leaders, gathered in the Gothic surrounds of Australia's largest Roman Catholic cathedral as part of the festival.

Harmony between religion and public life is especially important in these days, he said.

In reply, the delegates from the other creeds welcomed the pope's inclusionary stance, although Sheik Mohamadu Saleem of the National Imams Council of Australia noted discrimination between faiths is still a problem.

Muslims should be more understanding of other religions, he said, but: "At the same time, a significant amount of the Christian groups and other religions must overcome their prejudice to Muslims and Islam."

The pope also blessed the opening scene of a live re-enactment yesterday of the stations of the cross - the Bible's depiction of Christ's last days - that was played out against some of Sydney's best-known landmarks.