Pope Francis asks for forgiveness from those sexually abused by priests

Pontiff vows there will be no going back in Catholic church's fight to protect children

theguardian.com, Associated Press in Vatican City, Friday 11 April 2014

Pope Francis has come under criticism from victims' advocacy groups for
not meeting with survivors of sexual abuse Photograph: ZUMA/REX

Pope Francis asked for forgiveness on Friday from people who were sexually abused by priests, and vowed that there will be no going back in the church's fight to protect children.

The pope made the off-the-cuff remarks after coming under criticism from victims' groups for a perceived lack of attention to the problem and ongoing demands that he sanction bishops who covered up for paedophiles.

In his remarks to members of the International Catholic Child Bureau, a French Catholic network of organisations that protects children's rights, the pope said he felt "called to take it upon myself" and "ask forgiveness" for the evil that some priests had committed against children.

"The church is aware of this damage," he was quoted as saying by Vatican Radio. "We don't want to take a step back in dealing with this problem and the sanctions that must be imposed. On the contrary, I think we must be even stronger. You don't play around with the lives of children."

Last month, the pope named the initial members of a commission to advise him on best practices to combat sexual abuse in the church. Half of them are women and one was assaulted by a priest as a child.

The Vatican has said the members will draft the statutes of the commission and would look into the legal "duties and responsibilities" of church personnel, a suggestion that they may take up the critical question of disciplining complicit bishops. Church law provides for sanctions if a bishop is negligent in carrying out his duties, but to date no bishop has been disciplined for protecting an abuser.

The pope named the commission members after coming under fire for taking no action since the commission itself was announced in December. Victims' groups have also been irked that he hasn't met with survivors and recently told a newspaper that the church had been unfairly attacked for its abuse record.

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