Keep calm and carry on praying – the Pope’s astonishing defence of predatory priests

Sep 15, 2018 by

by Dr Campbell Campbell-Jack, The Conservative Woman:

Directly addressing the sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic church this week, Pope Francis has done what many thought impossible: he has made matters worse.

The manner in which the Pope approaches the issue is genuinely astonishing. He gives the impression that he is much more interested in protecting the church organisation and those within the hierarchy than he is with the pastoral task of healing the hurts of the victims and the faithful of his church.

In a homily whilst celebrating mass at the Vatican on Tuesday, Francis said:

‘In these times, it seems like the Great Accuser has been unchained and is attacking bishops. True, we are all sinners, we bishops. He tries to uncover the sins so they are visible in order to scandalise the people. The Great Accuser, as he himself says to God in the first chapter of the book of Job, ‘roams the earth looking for someone to accuse. A bishop’s strength against the Great Accuser is prayer, Jesus’s and his own, and the humility of being chosen and remaining close to the people of God, without seeking an aristocratic life that removes this unction. Let us pray, today, for our bishops: for me, for those who are here, and for all the bishops throughout the world.’

To imply that the real victims of the abuse scandal are the bishops beggars belief. To say that those who expose priests and bishops within the ecclesiastical structure who have committed appalling crimes against children, and the continuing effort to cover it up, are doing the work of Satan is beyond comprehension.

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