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Pope apologizes for Church sex abuse

150,000 pilgrims welcome Pope at World Youth Day

Man guilty of child sexual abuse

Pope apologizes for Church sex abuse
By Philip Pullella, www.reuters.com
Sat Jul 19, 2008

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Saturday apologized directly for the first time for sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy, but victims groups in Australia said they wanted action and not words.

The pope, making some of his most explicit comments on the sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Church in several countries, also said unequivocally that those responsible should be brought to justice.

Benedict made a last-minute addition to his prepared homily in St. Mary's Cathedral, adding one powerful and personal sentence -- using the word "I" three times -- the Vatican had hoped would satisfy victims groups.

150,000 pilgrims welcome Pope at World Youth Day
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 14:06:00 07/17/2008

SYDNEY -- Pope Benedict XVI arrived by boat at a former wharf on Sydney harbor Thursday ahead of a massive outdoor welcome by around 150,000 World Youth Day pilgrims.

The pope traveled across Sydney Harbor in a 13 vessel "boat-a-cade" before docking at Barangaroo, where he was to be officially welcomed to World Youth Day.

The pontiff stood at rail of his multi-decked boat, waving to the huge crowd after the 45-minute journey on which he was accompanied by a painted Aboriginal youth and a party that included a throng of cardinals and church officials.

Pilgrims and locals crammed vantage points around the harbor to catch a glimpse of the waving 81-year-old pontiff during the "boat-a-cade", with more crowded into the 150,000-capacity venue.

Thousands are also expected to fill the streets after the welcome when the pope was to be driven through central city streets in his Popemobile on his way to his city accommodation.

World Youth Day has drawn around 200,000 pilgrims to Sydney and the closing mass on Sunday is expected to draw a crowd of up to half a million.

Man guilty of child sexual abuse
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/7278165.stm
Published: 2008/03/04 19:46:27 GMT

A man from Cornwall has been found guilty of multiple offences relating to the sexual abuse of children.

Jonathan Victor Walker, 32, from St Austell, was convicted of charges including the making of indecent images and sexual assaults against children.

Plymouth Crown Court heard that one victim was only six weeks old.

He will be sentenced later in March. His conviction is the result of a investigation involving the Devon and Cornwall Police High Tech Crime Unit.

Walker, formerly of the Kengarthy caravan site at St Austell, was found guilty of 17 charges.

They included multiple counts of making indecent photos of a child and multiple counts of sexual assault of children under 13.

He was also found guilty of the attempted rape of children under 13, sexual activity with children and possessing indecent images.

He faces being jailed for life.