Pope Francis takes responsibility for child abuse by clergy
April 14, 2014 ·
The Pope make the first strong statement that takes responsibility and threatened harsh sanctions against the clerical abusers.
“I feel that I must take responsibility for all the harm that some priests-quite a number, but not in proportion to the total. I must take responsibility and ask forgiveness for the damage they have caused through sexual abuse of children. The Church is aware of this damage. It is their own personal and moral damage, but they are men of the Church,” he said, according to a Vatican press office statement. “And we will not take one step backwards in dealing with this problem and the sanctions that must be imposed. On the contrary, I believe that we must be even stronger. You do not interfere with children.” Vatican Radio reported.
