Pope Meets With Clergy Sex Abuse Victims

On U.S. Visit, Benedict XVI Offers Encouragement To Small Group Of Victims, Vatican Says

(CBS/AP)  Pope Benedict XVI met privately Thursday with victims of clergy sex abuse during his trip to the United States.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi, a papal spokesman, said that Benedict and Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley met with a small group of victims and offered them encouragement and hope.

Lombardi said the pope told victims he would pray for them, their families and all victims of clergy sex abuse.

Benedict has spoken repeatedly about the abuse crisis during his first trip to the United States as pope.

He called the crisis a cause of "deep shame," pledged to keep pedophiles out of the priesthood and decried the "enormous pain" that communities have suffered from such "gravely immoral behavior" by priest.

He told the nation's bishops that the crisis was "sometimes very badly handled," and said they must reach out with love and compassion to victims. At an open air Mass on Thursday at Nationals Park, he also urged Catholic parishioners to do what they can to heal the wounds caused by the sex abuse scandal.

Thousands of priests have been accused of molesting minors in the U.S. since 1950 and the church has paid out more than $2 billion, much of it in just the last six years, when the case of a serial molester in Boston gained national attention and prompted many victims to step forward.

Gary Bergeron, an outspoken survivor of clergy sex abuse from Boston, failed in his attempt to meet with Pope John Paul II, Benedict's predecessor, when he spent a week at the Vatican a few years ago.

He called Thursday's meeting "a long-sought-for step in the right direction."

"The Catholic Church is partly based on symbolism, and I think the symbolism had he not met with survivors would have been horrendous," the 45-year-old Bergeron said.

Ealier Thursday, Benedict presided over a Mass celebrated in 10 languages, calling the United States a land of opportunity and hope but decrying that the nation's promise has been left unfulfilled for some.

At the first public Mass of his U.S. pilgrimage, Benedict mixed praise for the American experience with an effort to touch consciences, something he has been doing since the start of his trip on Tuesday.

More than 45,000 people filled Nationals Park on a clear spring day, as the pope, wearing scarlet vestments, led the service from an altar erected in centerfield of the recently inaugurated baseball stadium. Rows of red-robed church leaders joined him. The enthusiastic crowd burst into cheers when Benedict entered the stadium in his popemobile.

His homily was more somber. Benedict examined American society, saying he detected anger and alienation, increasing violence and a "growing forgetfulness of God."

"Americans have always been a people of hope," he said. "Your ancestors came to this country with the experience of finding new freedom and opportunity.

"To be sure, this promise was not experienced by all the inhabitants of this land; one thinks of the injustices endured by the native American peoples and by those brought here forcibly from Africa as slaves."

It was not the first time on the trip that the pontiff has delicately critiqued his host nation.

Speaking to his American bishops Wednesday, he said the U.S. must be welcoming to immigrants, helping them to flourish in their new homes.

Following a White House visit, a joint statement from the U.S. and the Vatican hinted that Benedict raised concerns with President Bush about punitive immigration laws. It said the leaders discussed "the need for a coordinated policy regarding immigration, especially the humane treatment of immigrants and the well-being of their families."

The statement also said Bush and Benedict "touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights" - an apparent reflection of the Vatican's strong condemnation of the mistreatment of prisoners.

During Thursday's Mass, Benedict worried about divisions among Catholics, and what he called the "troubling realization" that many are not following church teaching.

Everybody who wanted to -- in the space of about half-an-hour -- received Communion from 300 white-robed priests scattered throughout the stadium, reports CBS News correspondent Dan Raviv.

At 5:45 a.m., more than four hours before the Mass, it was standing-room only on subways. Inside the stadium, pope paraphernalia, such as T-shirts, mugs, bumper stickers, pins and flags were on sale, reports CBS' The Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez.

For others, there was nothing more important than getting in, and many people without tickets stood outside the subway station with signs pleading for extras.

Patty Trail, 54, pastoral associate at a church in Virginia Beach, Va., drove overnight to bring two priests to the Mass. She didn't have a ticket but said she was happy to at least be in the vicinity of the pope.

"Just to be out here, just to be in the presence," she said. "D.C. feels different."

At the end of the two-hour Mass, Benedict blessed the cheering crowd, some of them waving Vatican flags. Worried-looking papal bodyguards stood close and cleared a way for him as he walked out, while many worshippers tried to shake his hand or touch his robes.

A number of lawmakers who support abortion rights attended the Mass, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. John Kerry, the former Democratic presidential candidate. During the 2004 campaign, several bishops questioned whether Kerry should receive Communion because of his stand on abortion. The Massachusetts Democrat who took Communion from a priest far from the papal altar.

For some, the experience of Mass with Benedict was overwhelming. It made Barbara Loh of Williamsburg, Va., tear up.

"I've been Catholic all my life," she said. "My dream has always been to see the pope."

[berniepeders]

I was raised catholic, but the hypocrisy and corruption I saw made me leave. I can''t understand all the hoopla about this guy coming here. He''s nothing but a human being, he''s no holier than you or me. And the catholic church is very corrupt. Look at how he lives, villas and palaces, travels by private jet & limos. What a phony sham. I feel sorry for all those believers.

[tomanyt]

Popes in town, hide your children. If your missing a child, look under his dress. That''s probably were you will will find them.

[xalen54]

Popes in town, hide your children. If your missing a child, look under his dress. That''''s probably were you will will find them.

Posted by tomanyt at 11:39 AM : Apr 17, 2008
----------------------------------------------------

I find that to be a very abhorent remark. Only a small minded fool would say that about the Holy Father.

[tomanyt]

Xalen54...I''m not commenting to please you. I just call it like I see it. And if you had any sense about you at all you would leave religion behind. Religion destroys!!!!

[xalen54]

Religion is there to comfort others, doesn''t mean I believe everything the Bible says. Everyone believes differently, therefore, there is no true religion. All I am saying is that you take the crime of what some rogue priest does & put it on someone like the Pope, only a licentious loon does that. *It would be something like me blaming you for all of Bush''s failures*

[xalen54]

The ONLY HOLY FATHER is the Father in Heaven, the Lord Jesu Christ. Not the poooop.

Betcha didn''''t know that the Gospels specifically say not to call anyone the "Father" except the Father in Heaven.

Jesus said so Himself.

Posted by liberalbias1 at 12:29 PM : Apr 17, 2008
------------------------
let us now have a lesson in Latin. Pope in Latin means "Father" & he is the leader of the Catholic Church. Therefore, he is designated as the Holy Father, he is not as holy as God, but it is just a title, nothing more, nothing less.

[arlt1627]

The ONLY HOLY FATHER is the Father in Heaven, the Lord Jesu Christ. Not the poooop.

Betcha didn''''t know that the Gospels specifically say not to call anyone the "Father" except the Father in Heaven.

Jesus said so Himself.

Posted by liberalbias1 at 12:29 PM : Apr 17, 2008


Oh, literal interpretation again. This is a metaphor for the head of the church. I don''t know anyone that sees the pope as an equal to or even remotely close to Jesus or God. Get over it.

[usmcvn2]

Will the real holy father please stand up?? Is it
Rev Right, Rev Al, Rev Jessie, Rev X or this new guy Rev Poop?

ROFLMFAO

[usmcvn2]

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

Posted by Quetzal0666 at 01:06 PM : Apr 17, 2008

I think its the hat or maybe the popemobile?? Nah,must be the sandles,

[randynason]

...he lamented that the nation''s promise fell short for Indians and blacks.

Don''t forget about the ***, Benny. If it wasn''t for the gay boys, the priests wouldn''t have any playmates. Oh, I almost forgot: homosexuality is against "God''s law."

[consciousnes]

That is how the church gets all its money. They tell everyone they are so good and you can''t get to heaven without giving them all your money. Why do you think they left some of the gospels out of the bible. That way they can tell people who can''t or don''t read it what to do.
He has the audacity to put the United States down for what was done to the Indians and blacks?
What about his priests that pray on little boys and girls? (And I don''t mean pray for them.) He should clean out his own closet before he opens his mouth.

[gheemaster38]

Why do people follow this man like he is GOD? According to your Bible laws "All men (including the Pope) have sinned." What makes him so special? Besides being in charge of the riches corporation (Religion) in the World in excess of 200 billion per year (Profit)? Oh yea that''s what it is.. Thanks I got my own answer on that one. If there is a hell there are gonna be a lot of religious folks there getting sun tans.. Forgive, me folks but I WILL NOT worship any man. HE IS JUST A MAN! Nothing more Nothing Less. By the way I wonder what miracle did he perform?

[feedback3-2009]

By Pope I assume you mean ex-Nazi and front man for the largest child rape ring in history? Maybe God forgave him? Or maybe there is no god, only false gods?

[xalen54]

By Pope I assume you mean ex-Nazi and front man for the largest child rape ring in history? Maybe God forgave him? Or maybe there is no god, only false gods?

Posted by feedback3 at 01:25 PM : Apr 17, 2008
----------

This just proves how stupid the average human is. Yes he was born in Germany during the era of Hitler, in which case every child was to attend Hitler Youth, or suffer the consquences. As for now, I don''t see him wearing a Swastika & ordering all Jews be placed in concentration camps now do I? Also has no one ever heard of a rogue priest? All a child molester has to do is attend college & become a priest, its not that hard to do. Sure they take vows, but they can lie, can they not? Just because there are inquinity sick people in this world doesn''t mean their crimes are rested on 1 man.

[tomanyt]

Xalen54...The Pope is just as guilty as the priests who did the molesting!!! The Catholic church (which he is the head of) has been hiding this for a long time.

[usmcvn2]

I''m hoping the Pope comes to the Chicago area on his trip. This would bring about a million illegal Mexicans out of hiding. They could all be rounded up and sent back.

[xalen54]

Xalen54...The Pope is just as guilty as the priests who did the molesting!!! The Catholic church (which he is the head of) has been hiding this for a long time.

Posted by tomanyt at 01:33 PM : Apr 17, 2008
----------
That is the most rediculous remark I have ever heard. That is like blaming everyone in the United States because of the Tibeten unrest in China.

[honestabe8]

On the other hand, they do say it''s blessed to come in the name of the lord..."Oh, GGod, Oh Jeebus!"

[xalen54]

I have an idea, lets blame our economic crisis, inflation, immigration problem, & whatever other problems we have on tomanyt. It may not be his fault, but what the hell this the United States!

[honestabe8]

Xalen...and,of course, Benny had nothing to do with hiding the alterboy buggering priests....

[xalen54]

I''m sorry was that unfair? Of course it is, just because you enjoy the use of scapegoats doesn''t mean we should blame you. I was just mearly using that as an example. You can''t be held responsible for that, just like the Pope can''t be held responsible for what these rogue priests do. If we did that, then we would be a Beuracracy.

[honestabe8]

"Of course, I helped hide these rogue priests, but you can''t blame me, I didn''t cause these priests...I just transferred them to unsuspecting parishes" How is Cardinal Law?

[xalen54]

"Of course, I helped hide these rogue priests, but you can''''t blame me, I didn''''t cause these priests...I just transferred them to unsuspecting parishes" How is Cardinal Law?

Posted by honestabe8 at 01:47 PM : Apr 17, 2008
-----------------

This just proves how the stupid the average human is & how they make assumptions. These rogue priests are excommunicated & then sentenced to a trial in whatever country they are in.

[honestabe8]

liberalbias...another predictable comment from the fairy tale believing theists....

[honestabe8]

just more empty proxy threats

[tomanyt]

Xalen54...Are you delusional or just stupid. This man(along with all the other Popes) knowingly hide child predators for years and you see nothing wrong with that?

[tomanyt]

"This just proves how the stupid the average human is & how they make assumptions. These rogue priests are excommunicated & then sentenced to a trial in whatever country they are in.
Posted by Xalen54"
And you called my post ridiculous!!!!

[arlt1627]

Let me ask you something, why do you pick and choose which parts of the Bible you''''d "like to take literally" but ignore the rest?

You make absolutely no sense and you have flawed logic by this type of belief.

You''''re picking and choosing which parts of the Scripture you want to believe in, all while ignoring the rest.

This is called "Having your cake and eating it too" Christianity.

However it does not work this way.

Posted by liberalbias1 at 01:55 PM : Apr 17, 2008


God didnt'' write the Bible. Man did. Therefore it is not 100% accurate. It is a collection of stories, parables, and teachings from Jesus.

[honestabe8]

"lost souls"...as if your imaginary petty prick will take revenge on those who are lost.

[tomanyt]

And another anti-Christian bigoted comment from the blasphemous atheist. Keep it up.

You atheists are by far the most bigoted human beings on the planet. Noone can hold a candle to your bigotry, especially when it comes to your bigotry of Christians.
Posted by liberalbias1
And Christians aren''t bigoted toward the non-religious?????

[honestabe8]

keep it up? why, is jeebus going to take revenge? talk about petty punks....

[honestabe8]

right, original sin is not a bigoted concept

[tomanyt]

Christianity is like all other religions. The only thing they are interested in is your money.

[honestabe8]

tom...and power

[arlt1627]

If I were to take it literally, I''d wouldn''t be able to answer this question....If God created Adam & Eve and they gave birth to 2 sons, where did the wives of Cain & Able come from?

Just saying.

[honestabe8]

arlt...they just used Eve. basically, we are descended from mother****ers

[tomanyt]

I''''m a Christian and I could care less about your money. But since you''''ve brought up money, you do realize that the Christian faith has given more money and necessities to the poor and deprived than any other faith in the history of mankind right?

A fact that kills you, I know, but sometimes the truth hurts.
Posted by liberalbias1

I hate to say it but I don''t really see any evidence of that at all. In fact, a Pentecostal church, not far from where I live, just build two (very large) churches next to one another at a cost of $150 million a piece. That''s a lot of dough being spent on a building when it could have gone to the poor/homeless. And thing that kills me the most is that they get all this money TAX FREE!!!

[honestabe8]

liberalbias: i got no problem with people believing in whatever they wish. some views seem more silly than others, but it is freedom of religion.

[arlt1627]

liberalbias1,

Where in the Bible do they talk about sisters of Cain & Able? Maybe I missed that one.

You''re free to continue reading and interpreting the Bible literally for all I care. The problem I have with you is that you preach from your literal background on the rest of us. I''m Catholic and believe in the basic doctrines of Christianity. However, the BIBLE itself does not account for everything in our world. That is why I don''t pick & choose certain "gospels" or "testaments" to focus on like you. You have often made references to particular gospels & so on and continue to pick & choose on here right with the best of them.

[tomanyt]

liberalbias1....Talk to me about the books of the bible that were banned because they contradicted what they wanted to keep in the bible. If the bible is god-breathed would it not be a bit more accurate than it is.
And why is incest "legal" in the beginning and then not "legal" later. Could it be that it was a way of reconciling a "story" that didn''t mesh otherwise? Probably.

[honestabe8]

Yeah, like boinking a 13 year old virgin without her consent...

[thinkharder-]

But like I said, Christianity has given more money and needs to the poor than any other faith in the history of man, and still does to this day.

Why you choose to ignore this undeniable fact is baffling to me.
Posted by liberalbias1 at 02:30 PM : Apr 17, 2008

You are absolutely correct, yet...it has also fomented some of the worst crimes against humanity this world has ever seen. It partakes in and feeds from a level of the psychy prone to credulity and violence...it is this same portion of your conscience from which a muslim claims justice in killing an infidel, or a christian claims justice in bombing a clinic, etc. etc. I''m not saying that religion should be eradicated. I am saying that the types of religious fervor that taps into the worst of all of us should be.

[rf35]

Muslim.

[tomanyt]

Actually Joseph Stalin, the atheist dictator, holds the record for the most murders of innocent people in a government.

You''''re just choosing to attacking Christians from your world view of things, because the reality is: YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
Not the slightest clue.
Posted by liberalbias1
No liberalbias1, I think its you who doesn''t have a clue.
Christians have killed a lot more people over the last several thousand years, then Stalin. Let see: There was the Spanish Inquisition, which hunts in Salem, the Crusades, etc. No sir, Stalin didn''t do as much killing as Christians have. Put down your bible and read a history book. You may actually find it informative.

[honestabe8]

if we have no idea what it is like to be a christian, what do you know of being an atheist?

[honestabe8]

gosh, liberalbias, you are a pompous blowhard.

[tomanyt]

koko98...If a criminal kills someone then the death penalty is very appropriate. Otherwise no.

[tomanyt]

liberalbias1...All your posts were not deleted. There is not some sort of Anti-Christian conspiracy at CBS.
honestabe8 was right you are a pompous blowhard.

[fibonacci_]

Little Christian.

[honestabe8]

this was not an anti-christian comment, you pompous blowhard, it was an anti-liberalbias comment. if you think that you represent all christians, you are deluded in addition to being pompous.