Pope: Sex Abuse "Badly Handled" By Church

Addressing American Bishops, Benedict XVI Offers His Harshest Criticism Yet Of Scandal

(CBS/AP)  Feted at the White House on his 81st birthday, Pope Benedict XVI praised Americans for their deep religious beliefs Wednesday but later told the nation's bishops that the scourge of clergy sex abuse had sometimes been "very badly handled."

Benedict's comments, his toughest critique yet of the U.S. church's worst problem, marked the second day in a row that he addressed the abuse scandal. They came as he addressed the nation's bishops at the imposing Immaculate Conception shrine.

He also reminded the prelates that religion cannot only be considered a "private matter" without any bearing on public behavior.

The pontiff questioned how Catholics could ignore church teaching on sex, exploit or ignore the poor, or adopt positions contradiciting "the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death."

"Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted," he said. Benedict's remarks came on a day when all of the five Catholic justices on the U.S. Supreme Court approved the most widely used method of lethal injection, and congressional representatives who support abortion rights said they planned to take Holy Communion on Thursday at a papal Mass.

The scandal has cost the church $2 billion in settlements - a moral crisis that became a fiscal crisis, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.

Benedict called the clergy sex abuse scandal a cause of "deep shame." He decried the "enormous pain" that communities have suffered from such "gravely immoral behavior" by priest.

Benedict addressed clerical molesters in the wider context of secularism and the over-sexualization of America. "What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?" he asked.

The pope spoke after Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, who is the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

George said that the consequences of the clergy abuse scandal "and of its being sometimes very badly handled by bishops makes both the personal faith of some Catholics and the public life of the church herself more problematic."

Benedict agreed with that assessment.

"Responding to this situation has not been easy and, as the president of your episcopal conference has indicated, it was sometimes very badly handled," he said.

The German-born pope began his first full day in America with a visit to the White House, where a South Lawn crowd of more than 13,500 sang "Happy Birthday" and President Bush said that the first papal White House visit in 29 years was a reminder for Americans to "distinguish between simple right and wrong."

"We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth," Bush said. "In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves, but in a spirit of mutual support."

The pontiff said that he was visiting "as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society."

His 90-minute visit to the White House — only the second ever by a pope — was accompanied by the kind of pomp and pageantry rarely seen even on grounds accustomed to welcoming royalty and the world's most important leaders.

After their meeting in the Oval Office, Bush and the pope were joined by Laura Bush, and the three "prayed for the (institution) of the family," said Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi.

On a glorious spring day, lampposts fluttered with flags in the red-white-and-blue of America and yellow-and-white of the Holy See. The vast South Lawn was filled nearly to bursting with the largest crowd of Bush's presidency, requiring a large television screen so those further back could see.

Groups of Boy and Girl Scouts in their uniforms and members of the Knights of Columbus wore their traditional brightly colored feather headgear. Thousands unable to get inside filled Washington's streets as well, playing music and waving banners as they waited for a hoped-for glimpse of the pontiff passing by later in his popemobile.

Benedict was greeted by Bush and his wife. The two men strolled along a red carpet to a platform on the lawn, and sat side-by-side as the Marine Band played the national anthem of the Holy See while a 21-gun salute sprayed gray smoke into the air.

Famed American soprano Kathleen Battle sang "The Lord's Prayer." The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps marched by, dressed in colonial garb.

Benedict seemed genuinely moved as "Happy Birthday" was sung. Later, at a private lunch with American cardinals at the Vatican Embassy, the pope was shown in a photo released by the Vatican standing before a four-tier white cake with a single candle atop it.

The South Lawn arrival ceremony was followed by 45 minutes of private talks between Bush and Benedict alone in the Oval Office.

It was the 25th meeting between the leader of the world's Roman Catholic and a U.S. president, sessions that have spanned 89 years, five pontiffs and 11 American leaders.

Bush and Benedict agreed Wednesday that terrorism is an unacceptable weapon for any cause or religion. They also share common ground in opposing terrorism, abortion, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research.

But they disagree over the war in Iraq, the death penalty and the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. Benedict also speaks for environmental protection and social welfare in ways that run counter to Bush policies.

A joint U.S.-Holy See statement hinted that Benedict brought up his concerns about the damage caused by punitive immigration laws. It said the leaders discussed "the need for a coordinated policy regarding immigration, especially their humane treatment and the well being of their families."

On Iraq, discussion steered away from the war itself to focus primarily on worries for the Christian minority in the Muslim-majority country, said White House press secretary Dana Perino.

"The two reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism as well as the manipulation of religion to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents," the statement said.

It also said the leaders "touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights," a reference Perino could not explain. Benedict has been critical of harsh interrogation methods, telling a meeting of the Vatican's office for social justice last September that, while a country has an obligation to keep its citizens safe, prisoners must never be demeaned or tortured.

[mudrose-2009]

Viva Papa. Welcome!

[dorlockt]

THE DEVIL AS WELL.....

Posted by JLSV1618 at 11:09 AM : Apr 16, 2008

Are you trying to finish a sentence again?

[repub-i-can]

That''s a nice shot of the confederate flag in the background! You know the church supported slavery...I''m glad there isn''t a pedophile flag! Or is there?

[jersupporter]

THE DEVIL AS WELL..... Posted by JLSV1618
-------------------------
I think JLSV is trying to say he is an IMBECILE as well. Talk about hatred of religion.

[mudrose-2009]

What''''s the point of a pope? Why glorify this man?
Posted by jh6379

What''s the point of the Mullahs? Why glorify them?

[tonyd_31]

I am sure the Pope is not the only one who disagrees with "Dubya" and his ill-advised policies. Only the nutty neocons who have been brainwashed by Rush and the crew seem to understand him.

[mudrose-2009]

===That''''''''s a nice shot of the confederate flag in the background! You know the church supported slavery...I''''''''m glad there isn''''''''t a pedophile flag! Or is there?===
Posted by Repub-i-can

I think that''''s the state flag of Georgia in the background.
Posted by rafterman1

No, no rainbow flag for the faires or their counterparts - pedophiles.

[tonyd_31]

Mudrose, you hate everyone don''t you. Just not the numbskull that you should detest. You are some character! What has the Pope done to you?

[piercetheval]

OM SURYA NAMAH OM!

[mudrose-2009]

What''''''''''''''''s the point of a pope? Why glorify this man?
Posted by jh6379

What''''''''s the point of the Mullahs? Why glorify them?

Posted by mudrose at 11:30 AM : Apr 16, 2008





Exactly!!

Since there''''s NO DIFFERENCE between the pope and the mullahs, we shouldn''''t glorify either!!

Well said muddy!!
Posted by hungry1968

No you actually said it hungry1968. I suppose neither of them likes faires either. However, one is tolerant of them the other kills them. Big difference.

[downtowner97]

Separation of church and state at its finest.

[lindaredtail]

I don''t like this Pope because of some of the things in his past. I don''t however think he''s the child of the devil. There were other Christian faiths that supported slavery besides Catholicism and one of them held the highest percentage of slaves not Catholics. Especially not here in the U.S. No religious leader should be glorified. And Tony_D. Some people hate because it''s easier than getting their facts straight.

[mudrose-2009]

Separation of church and state at its finest.
Posted by downtowner97

Yeah, especially since the Founders wanted religion in the Public Square since it was the fabric of society after what they endured under the State Church of England.

Unfortunately for you this is America and there is no separation of church and state.

[mudrose-2009]

Mudrose, you hate everyone don''''t you. Just not the numbskull that you should detest. You are some character! What has the Pope done to you?
Posted by Tonyd_31

Are you gun-toting, religion clinging-antipathic immigrant hating bitter blue colar type race baiter like Effendi Snob-oma. Are you a xenophobe? Do you live in a gulag? Unfortunately, Catholics don''t defend themselves well like the other "Killer" faiths.

[downtowner97]

If there is a God and a Devil, the Devil is in charge of organized religion.

[mudrose-2009]

Wall Street rallied Wednesday after better-than-expected quarterly results from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and two other Dow Jones industrials raised investors'' hopes that companies and the economy are recovering from the country''s protracted credit crisis.

Dow up 171.71

Must be the Pope''s visit.

[walt1944-2009]

Pope Benedict XVI and the Great Emperor Bush held an extravagent event on the south lawn of the White House this morning. The event was held on the south lawn in an effort to confuse "The Bird of Paradise" should it decide to visit the White House looking for the Great Emperor once again!

Later, both the pope and the Great Emperor will discuss several issues, one of them being the way that God "talks" to them. Believing himself to be "divinely inspired" in his decisions (or lack of them!) in all matters, the Great Emperor wants to learn how the pope can still be as popular as he is, while the Great Emperor, having the same powers as the pope, can only have a 27% approval rating here and is hated by everyone outside of the USSA!

Afterwards, the Great Emperor will take the pope to his private "den" in the basement of the White House where he will allow the pope to ride his mechanical bull, and watch Hannah Montana on wide screen TV.

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, (more of the same) McCain (alias "McBush!)!!!

[mudrose-2009]

Afterwards, the Great Emperor will take the pope to his private "den" in the basement of the White House where he will allow the pope to ride his mechanical bull, and watch Hannah Montana on wide screen TV.

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, (more of the same) McCain (alias "McBush!)!!!
Posted by walt1944

Now I''m sure you wish you were that mechanical bull. You''re just jealous that nobody wants to ride ya. I think you should ask RamaLamaObama if he can ride you. He''ll put you in his special gulag and make you his special poney.

[mudrose-2009]

Wall Street rallied Wednesday after better-than-expected quarterly results from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and two other Dow Jones industrials raised investors'''' hopes that companies and the economy are recovering from the country''''s protracted credit crisis.

Dow up 171.71

Must be the Pope''''s visit.

Now what will the Effendi Snob-oma do to woo all those $3,000 suits in San Francisco at the expense of those gun-toting, religious-clinging, antipathetic immigrant-hating bigoted bull colar gulag types if the market corrects itself? I mean how will he appeal to the masses that hunger for more government after government has according to Effendi Snob-oma has failed them. Oh, the perfect solution is more Government. Wink-Wink.

[grim56z]

Hey alphanuclear, save your paranoid schizophrenia. Take your Thorazine and Haldol. It will restore your thoughts and diminish the delusions.

[sheila1346]

I am outraged that our President would pander himself to the Pope and use him as a photo op. We are a country of many faiths and many different religions as well as atheists and agnostics; yet no other religious leader is given this type of fanfare. His speech seemed to give the impression He and the Pope were of one mind on world politics as well asking the Pope to speak to the us on such topics as abortion to help put our counrty on track. What is wrong with this man?
I was raised Irish Catholic and not only have nothing against the Pope but I have respect for him. I also would see nothing wrong with a quiet meeting out of courtesy with the Pope but what is being done now is just plain wrong. Part of the beauty of our country is that we are a multicultural diverse people and Mr. Bush is not a uniter despite his ego.

[mudrose-2009]

Real military power is a dune buggy.
Posted by alphanuclear

Donnie, I think you should rapute yourself.

[dorlockt]

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, (more of the same) McCain (alias "McBush!)!!!
Posted by walt1944

Not sure why these libs feel the need to worship Bush. Oh yeah, that''s right. It''s because most of them confuse the difference between Bush and God.

[lindaredtail]

mudrose what is your problem? Do you hate everyone. I am capable of defending myself, my arguments and my facts. What do you subscribe to? The conservative Almanac of distortions? Do you ever do research for yourself? Think for yourself? It doesn''t seem like it.

[mudrose-2009]

I am outraged that our President would pander himself to the Pope and use him as a photo op. We are a country of many faiths and many different religions as well as atheists and agnostics; yet no other religious leader is given this type of fanfare. His speech seemed to give the impression He and the Pope were of one mind on world politics as well asking the Pope to speak to the us on such topics as abortion to help put our counrty on track. What is wrong with this man?
I was raised Irish Catholic and not only have nothing against the Pope but I have respect for him. I also would see nothing wrong with a quiet meeting out of courtesy with the Pope but what is being done now is just plain wrong. Part of the beauty of our country is that we are a multicultural diverse people and Mr. Bush is not a uniter despite his ego.

Posted by sheila1346

Wow, I didn''t hear any screams at the Dahli Lama''s visit. I know it''s a discretionary dislike.

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose what is your problem? Do you hate everyone. I am capable of defending myself, my arguments and my facts. What do you subscribe to? The conservative Almanac of distortions? Do you ever do research for yourself? Think for yourself? It doesn''''t seem like it.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by lindaredtail

Well, you have your almanacs and I have mine now, right? You like the Socialist/Democratic/Progressive/Whatever type of gulag almanac where everyone moves in lock step. Anyone who thinks outside the box is a problem to you, right?

[mudrose-2009]

Gee, didn''t Nancy Pewlosi bring her Folsom Street boys to wave to the Pope. What''s the matter Nancy - don''t you practice your faith?

[mudrose-2009]

Nancy, do you think the Pope can use the congressional conference room like the C.A.R.E. boys did? Hey lindaredtail need some more details?

[gslinger3]

Mudrose, This country is 80% Christian, Deal with it!

God Bless America!!!!!

[lindaredtail]

There weren''t any screams at the Dalai Lama''s visit. There also weren''t 9000 people on the White House Lawn. Looked like two chairs in the Oval Office to me.

[dorlockt]

I am outraged that our President would pander himself to the Pope and use him as a photo op. We are a country of many faiths and many different religions as well as atheists and agnostics; yet no other religious leader is given this type of fanfare. His speech seemed to give the impression He and the Pope were of one mind on world politics as well asking the Pope to speak to the us on such topics as abortion to help put our counrty on track. What is wrong with this man?
I was raised Irish Catholic and not only have nothing against the Pope but I have respect for him. I also would see nothing wrong with a quiet meeting out of courtesy with the Pope but what is being done now is just plain wrong. Part of the beauty of our country is that we are a multicultural diverse people and Mr. Bush is not a uniter despite his ego.

Posted by sheila1346


Don''t worry....if Hussein gets elected president, the Islamolibs will be hacking your head off soon enough....just after you get done kissing their "feet."

[lindaredtail]

mudrose I like people who think outside the box. I spend a lot of time outside the box myself. You however do not think outside the box. You sound like every brainwashed conservative that I have ever heard. Viprous like Ann Coulter. Can''t you have a civil discussion. Like where do your facts come from about global warming? Mine come from numerous sources. Scientific journals for one.

[mudrose-2009]

Mudrose, This country is 80% Christian, Deal with it!

God Bless America!!!!!

Actually it''s higher, but I''m all for it.

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose I like people who think outside the box. I spend a lot of time outside the box myself. You however do not think outside the box. You sound like every brainwashed conservative that I have ever heard. Viprous like Ann Coulter. Can''''t you have a civil discussion. Like where do your facts come from about global warming? Mine come from numerous sources. Scientific journals for one.
Posted by lindaredtail

Here''s a little somethin for ya.

Environmentally friendly fuels may make drivers in the U.S. feel greener, but a report out of the United Nations reveals one dark side to going green. According to the U.N.''s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the demand for biofuel--particularly ethanol--is creating a crop shortage that''s resulting in a deadly famine for many of the world''s less fortunate. The U.N. estimates that the amount of corn it takes to fill a 50-liter car tank with ethanol is enough to feed a child for an entire year. America is already devoting 18 percent of its grain to ethanol production, and other countries are following our lead. Food prices are up, and the number of Third-World families that can afford to eat is down. In effect, this paranoia over global warming is leading to global hunger, a crisis far more destructive--and credible--than climate change. Despite what Al Gore says, this prescription for "solving" a climate problem (which scientists have yet to confirm) is not only expensive but also deadly.

[dorlockt]

Like where do your facts come from about global warming? Mine come from numerous sources. Scientific journals for one.

Posted by lindaredtail at 12:39 PM : Apr 16, 2008

They''re not very scientific if they''re debating global warming. Especially after NASA dropped its little bomb on the Gore-huggers last week.

[seyelda]

The Grand Enabler has arrived and the pathetic dupes bow and scrape.

[mudrose-2009]

Putting him on some sort of pedastol with Christ is blasphemy.
Posted by libagenda

The Pope historically is considered God''s earthly representative. He''s not put on any pedastol. He''s being treated with the deference he deserves.

[mudrose-2009]

The Grand Enabler has arrived and the pathetic dupes bow and scrape.
Posted by seyelda

Oh, is Jimmah back from the Middle East?

[dorlockt]

Viprous like Ann Coulter. Can''''''''t you have a civil discussion. Like where do your facts come from about global warming? Mine come from numerous sources. Scientific journals for one.
Posted by lindaredtail

Here''''s a little somethin for ya.

Environmentally friendly fuels may make drivers in the U.S. feel greener, but a report out of the United Nations reveals one dark side to going green. According to the U.N.''''s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the demand for biofuel--particularly ethanol--is creating a crop shortage that''''s resulting in a deadly famine for many of the world''''s less fortunate. The U.N. estimates that the amount of corn it takes to fill a 50-liter car tank with ethanol is enough to feed a child for an entire year. America is already devoting 18 percent of its grain to ethanol production, and other countries are following our lead. Food prices are up, and the number of Third-World families that can afford to eat is down. In effect, this paranoia over global warming is leading to global hunger, a crisis far more destructive--and credible--than climate change. Despite what Al Gore says, this prescription for "solving" a climate problem (which scientists have yet to confirm) is not only expensive but also deadly.


Posted by mudrose at 12:43 PM : Apr 16, 2008

Not to mention that there is 0% gain in burning ethanol, with regard to energy consumption. It takes more energy to produce ethanol than it produces when burned. How is that even sensible?

[mudrose-2009]

Not to mention that there is 0% gain in burning ethanol, with regard to energy consumption. It takes more energy to produce ethanol than it produces when burned. How is that even sensible?
Posted by bigjer2008

It''s also a great pollutant, too.

[demslie]

I am outraged that our President would pander himself to the Pope and use him as a photo op. We are a country of many faiths and many different religions as well as atheists and agnostics;......

Posted by sheila1346

Don''''t worry....if Hussein gets elected president, the Islamolibs will be hacking your head off soon enough....just after you get done kissing their "feet."

Posted by bigjer2008

Iranian President and World Wide Terrorist Supporter Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proclaimed ISLAM as the only acceptable religion on earth and said that the children of Christians and Jews should have their genitals cut off in public and then be decapitated. When Ahmadinejad came to New York to speak at a meeting of Democrat Union and Political Leaders He was given a standing ovation. The Pope comes to visit and Democrats scream hate, anger and denounce the man who preaches peace and love for all the world. But of course, we know that most Democrats like sheila1346 are Atheists who are way to intellectual to believe in anything but their own self-anointed superiority and then join their partners in IRAN and Al Qaeda in denouncing anything Christian including America.

[dorlockt]

The libs grow quiet. It must be "feeding on human flesh" time again.

[lindaredtail]

bigjer2008 and mudrose There are many more sources and studies than just NASA number one. Just like with the evolution debate the body of evidence is indisputable. Yet some people want to put dinosaurs on Noah''s Ark and continue a futile argument. And using ethanol may create a problem which needs to be addressed. Certainly starving people are more important than anything else. But that issue should be addressed and resolved somehow. That doesn''t mean that one report becomes the reason to abandon all efforts to reverse global warming. That is an illogical argument.

[grim56z]

Hey alphanuclear, give the medication time to work. It will end your hostility.

[mudrose-2009]

The libs grow quiet. It must be "feeding on human flesh" time again.

Posted by bigjer2008

Soylent 7 finally here? I have to check with Ted Turner. We''re supposed to go cannibal in another 10 years.

[DaveGress]

Why does THE POPE wear ruby slippers?

So that he''s always three click from home.

[mudrose-2009]

Iranian President and World Wide Terrorist Supporter Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proclaimed ISLAM as the only acceptable religion on earth and said that the children of Christians and Jews should have their genitals cut off in public and then be decapitated. When Ahmadinejad came to New York to speak at a meeting of Democrat Union and Political Leaders He was given a standing ovation. The Pope comes to visit and Democrats scream hate, anger and denounce the man who preaches peace and love for all the world. But of course, we know that most Democrats like sheila1346 are Atheists who are way to intellectual to believe in anything but their own self-anointed superiority and then join their partners in IRAN and Al Qaeda in denouncing anything Christian including America.
Posted by demslie

Good post. The Latte Liberals a/k/a Democrats/Socialists/Progressives/Marxists/Stalinists/Whatevers have a hard time understanding Democracy, Capitalism. It''s because they attend gulags like Harvard and Princeton on Affirmative Action and now can''t imagine that Blue colar workers aren''t gun-toting, religious-clinging antipathetic immigrant-hating bigots like themselves.

[mudrose-2009]

Effendi Snob-omba stepped on the third rail - guns and god. He''s dead.

[DaveGress]

mudrose is nuckin futs based on that last post. Stalin was a communist = conservative, so was marx.

[DaveGress]

This just in from POPEy-pants.

Click, there''s no place like home, Click, there''s no place like home, Click, there''s no place like home. Poof! He gone.