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.

[katg21]

I dont give a dam about silly pictures and videos- theres enough of that garbage around to fill Shea stadium- give em the stupid pictures and maybe they''''ll be happy with that and leave the real thing alone. Jail for having pictures is a waste of space time and money.
Posted by newsterl

These monsters have it easy, in some other countries they would be hung or shot for their crimes. I bet if our law threatened to castrate as punishment there would be a lot less pedophiles out there.

[katg21]

And what exactly do you SUGGEST be DONE Posted by newsterl

I suggest that judges be appointed who follow the rule of law instead of interpreting it as they wish; which is what liberal activist judges do continuously. You libs have something against children don''t ya...want women to kill their unborn and want liberal activist judges to set pedophiles free to walk the streets targeting children.

I have a handle on my children, thank you very much. I don''t need a village.

[newsterl]

Newsterl, You sound as angry as I am and your totally right; people don''''t watch their children I see this everyday in my communtiy.

The Judges can also accept some responsibilty because if the law states you get 5 years for molesting a child then that''''s what you should get 5 years.

Posted by johnesm123

Thats right, they DONT watch their kids, thats how a 3 year old in the news opened the front door of the house and wandered a block away and stood in the median, a level 3 registered *** offender picked the kid up and with 2 others who stopped- returned it. Parents were cited by the police.
Oh and NOW they will put a lock on the door!

You get 5 years if the law says that- IF theres jail space, trouble is you want every criminal locked up and theres not enough jail space and no one wants to pay to build more.
The failed ''war'' on drugs fills some 50-70% of the space for petty drug offenses while violent criminals serve 1/3rd their time and get paroled- insane!

"Ive seen molesters go to court get caught with pornography & viseos and they get sentenced to 6 months house arrest, "

I dont give a dam about silly pictures and videos- theres enough of that garbage around to fill Shea stadium- give em the stupid pictures and maybe they''ll be happy with that and leave the real thing alone. Jail for having pictures is a waste of space time and money.

[newsterl]

Pope Benedict was a Nazi.
Posted by lindaredtail

He is STILL a nazi right winger, I''m praying he goes home on a plane with a failing engine and arrives there eventually in many small unrecognizable pieces.
Lets see if prayer really works!

[Johnesa Smith]

Newsterl, You sound as angry as I am and your totally right; people don''t watch their children I see this everyday in my communtiy.

I myself watch my child like a hawk and no one is allowed to watch her exept my mother and my child''s father.

I still believe in that old saying; It takes a village to raise a child not saying we should raise other peoples children, but it doesn''t hurt to keep an eye on them.

The Judges can also accept some responsibilty because if the law states you get 5 years for molesting a child then that''s what you should get 5 years.

I''ve seen molester''s go to court get caught with pornography & viseos and they get sentenced to 6 month''s house arrest, usually when a judge does that a person isn''t a threat to the community so how to these rapist get off.

ANSWER

[newsterl]

"who continuously let pedophiles back on the street to commit crimes against children again. "

Of course the PARENTS ALSO have to accept blame as well for failing to monitor and protect THEIR kids and checking their friends and people they hang out with.
Its not up to the rest of us to protect YOUR kids because you are too lazy or incompetent- you have to do your job by yourself and not expect everyone else to do it for you and hope for best.

[newsterl]

Explain something to me if you can...you libs go on and on about "if a republican is president thene Roe vs. Wade will be over turned"..blah, blah, blah. Bush, a repub, has been pres for 8 years, has it been overturned by any of the judges he appointed? NO."

ONLY because the "leaning" makeup of the court is still somewhat intact at least until the last appointment and the issue has not been heavily pushed. The GOAL is to overturn Roe v Wade and another right leaning idiot appointed to the bench will be the one who tips the decision to the right.
Personally I think the govt should stay the hel1 out of a woman''s PERSONAL choice, this issue like the g@y marriage just keep coming up over and over and over, we have idiots voting for a president who will affect an entire country, and all policies for years- based solely on THOSE TWO criteria.


"appointed the liberal activist judges who continuously let pedophiles back on the street to commit crimes against children again.
Posted by katg21"

And what exactly do you SUGGEST be DONE when it''s not the judges who are doing that - they have to follow the laws, and if the law says 5 years MAX for crime of "x" then 5 years is ALL the judge can give, the judge can''t decide on their own what the PENALTY will be!
If you don''t like the penalty then work towards changing the LAW, but don''t blame judges for upholding the laws as they are WRITTEN and sentencing a criminal to what the written LAW says is the maximum.

[lindaredtail]

Pope Benedict was a Nazi. He was a member of the Infantry. He deserted and returned home not knowing that his house had been taken over by victorious Allied Forces as a headquarters. He deserted because his unit had ceased to exist. He was detained as a POW by American forces. I do not like this Pope but I think that there is a lot of anti-catholicism that is not rightful going on. Other religions have also engaged in plenty of wrongdoing over the centuries as well. Someone said yesterday that the Catholic Church supported slavery. The majority of American slaves were held by Protestants. Only 30,000 Catholics lived in the United States until the middle of the 1800''s not long before slavery was abolished. It was also Protestants who engaged in acts of genocide against Native Americans here in the U.S. In the islands and South America it was the conquistadors. There was great violence on both sides during the Reformation and both sides engaged in the witchcraft trials that went on from the 1500''s into the 1700''s. Thousands of people primarily women were burned at the stake, stoned, drowned, ect. Did you all know that the statistics show that sexual abuse of children primarily occurs at home? That children usually know the perpetrator? There''s lots of blame to pass around for brutality?

[katg21]

Hello Hillary, Hello Obama
PLEASE ADRESS THESE ISSUES ABOUT PEDOPHILES.
Posted by johnesm123

Explain something to me if you can...you libs go on and on about "if a republican is president thene Roe vs. Wade will be over turned"..blah, blah, blah. Bush, a repub, has been pres for 8 years, has it been overturned by any of the judges he appointed? NO. Yet here you are talking about Hillary and Obama doing something about pedophiles...Clinton is the one who appointed the liberal activist judges who continuously let pedophiles back on the street to commit crimes against children again. Seems you need to join the other party, my friend, if you want there to be anything done about pedophiles.

[changenow1]

Badly Handled?? They still don''t get it. I have yet to really hear him address the suffering of the victims of these priests or any remorse for putting them in harm''s way. He only talks how it affected him. What does pornography have to do with covering up a crime?

[Renegade.Rivers]

As a religion, I detest Catholicism, not just because of what it teaches, but because of what the ruling hierarchy of the church has done, and what they have advocated. The Catholic Church has a long and bloody history that goes back over 1500 years. The hierarchy has dictated, directed, and participated in everything from torture, and murder, to slavery and genocide. This is not to mention the abuse many children have endured at the hands of the "most holy ones" over hundreds of years. The Catholic Church has ruled, and dominated their demesne with an iron fist. At the same time it has allowed numerous leaders of the church to go unpunished or in some cases even castigated for the transgressions they committed. At the same they time were obnubilating and denying any wrong doing.

The Catholic Church has it''s place right along with the CFR, the Bilderberg group, the Zionist, and all of the other tentacles of the New World Order, that would subjugate us all to mere peasants in a modern day fiefdom.

[honestabe8]

Badly Handled? Perhaps the pope can ask one of his alterboy buttbuddies what the word "DUH!" means

[hungry1968]

Wasn''''t the popes'''' father a Nazi?

Posted by HHROAMS at 09:40 AM : Apr 17, 2008



I''m not sure, but the pope himself was a nazi youth.

[hhroams]

Wasn''t the popes'' father a Nazi?

[hhroams]

Did Dubya bow down and kiss his ring?

[hhroams]

The catholic church''s idea is that they can buy their way out of the problems. The problem is that in Europe and the rest of the world the people accept the abuse by the priests/bishops/cardinals/popes and dont let it out into the open. Americans are more likely to raise hell and let it be spoken out loud.

Americans have more of a problem with finding out that their children are being abused by the church hieracrhy.

[Johnesa Smith]

ENFORCE

[Johnesa Smith]

Hello Hillary, Hello Obama
PLEASE ADRESS THESE ISSUES ABOUT PEDOPHILES.

I like both of you, you both have your strengths, but please speak about plans to protect our children.

Please start inforcing Megans Law. I have pedophiles right around the corner from my house, 1block up, 1 block over & the community hasn''t been notified about anything & it''s not fair.

The Law used to put notices on tree stumps, what happened?

[Johnesa Smith]

Fellow Americans we have to change things, It''s up to us to Protect our Children. Everyone has forgotten about our children.

Our children''s rights and protection should be 1 of the topics that Hillary & Obama should also be discussing. It''s a topic no one wants to talk about during this time, but it''s apart of our history, our lives.

I''m not kidding about the Walkathon and or a March (ANY SPONSORS).

[Johnesa Smith]

The Catholic Church is setting a bad example to all Americans and to Pedophiles, they are saying is ok to molest children and if you do you''ll only get 2 years in prison; If you have the cash you''ll get house arrest.

I don''t understand what''s going on. They move these sick (animals) priest around as though nothing has happened. Yes!!! I call them animals, why should we feel any differently about the priest than any other pedophile.

How are we suppose to overcome and build a better country when our builders (children) are being sacrificed to the pedophiles.

It sickens me, I believe we should have a SAVE THE CHILDREN March or a Walkathon (ANY SPONSORS)???

We need to make it a Worldwide march so everyone, every State & Country can feel we are all working together on the same day at the sam time for the same thing..........Has anyone watched the MOntell Show this week...It''s a disgrace

Power to America''s Children & Children all over the world..