Post by Administration on Apr 1, 2010 11:27:42 GMT
Pope Mass hints at fightback against abuse critics
BBC news Sunday, 28 March 2010 23:16 UK
The Pope has spoken of the need not to be intimidated by critics, in a veiled reference to anger at the Catholic Church over past sex abuse scandals.
At a Mass in Rome's St Peter's Square, he said his faith would help give him the courage to deflect "petty gossip".
The Pope has been accused of failing to act over the case of a US priest alleged to have abused 200 deaf boys.
But the Archbishop of Westminster defended the Pope, saying he had introduced rules to protect children.
'Swamp of sin'
At the Palm Sunday service, Pope Benedict, 82, did not directly mention the wider scandal - involving the abuse of children by priests in several countries.
But he told the tens of thousands of people gathered to hear him that God helped lead "towards the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion".
He also said man sometimes fell to the "lowest, vulgar levels" and sank "into the swamp of sin and dishonesty".
The most senior Catholic in England and Wales, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, said just one case of child abuse was enough to create "justifiable anger".
He said the "anger and dismay" over the alleged cover-up by some Catholic clergy was "proper".
Read more;
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8592111.stm
BBC news Sunday, 28 March 2010 23:16 UK
The Pope has spoken of the need not to be intimidated by critics, in a veiled reference to anger at the Catholic Church over past sex abuse scandals.
At a Mass in Rome's St Peter's Square, he said his faith would help give him the courage to deflect "petty gossip".
The Pope has been accused of failing to act over the case of a US priest alleged to have abused 200 deaf boys.
But the Archbishop of Westminster defended the Pope, saying he had introduced rules to protect children.
'Swamp of sin'
At the Palm Sunday service, Pope Benedict, 82, did not directly mention the wider scandal - involving the abuse of children by priests in several countries.
But he told the tens of thousands of people gathered to hear him that God helped lead "towards the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion".
He also said man sometimes fell to the "lowest, vulgar levels" and sank "into the swamp of sin and dishonesty".
The most senior Catholic in England and Wales, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, said just one case of child abuse was enough to create "justifiable anger".
He said the "anger and dismay" over the alleged cover-up by some Catholic clergy was "proper".
Read more;
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8592111.stm