Benedict XVI Says He Is "Deeply Ashamed" of Sex Scandal

The old maxim that actions speak louder than words is a good standard by which to evaluate the truthfulness of Benedict XVI's claim that he is “deeply ashamed” of the Roman Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal in the USA. Since no bishop or cardinal involved in the shuffling of sexual predators from parish to parish or who was involved in threatening and brow beating victims and parents during the cover ups has been removed from office or thrown out of the priesthood, I hate to say it, but I believe what Benedict XVI is really ashamed of is the fact that the truth got out and the moral bankruptcy of the Church's clerical leaders was exposed. True shame and sorrow for the sins against children in any other institution would have lead to forced resignation, demotions, and all types of consequences. But not in the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Law and others deeply implicated in the cover ups get to live out very comfortable retirements - or like Cardinal Eagan of New York remain in office - at Church expense. Would that I could be so punished. Here are highlights from the New York Times' account of Benedict XVI's crocodile tears (note how he blames all betrayal on the individual priests and not the hierarchy):

Pope Benedict XVI landed at Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday afternoon, beginning a six-day visit after a flight in which he told reporters aboard his aircraft that he was “deeply ashamed” of the Roman Catholic Church’s child sexual-abuse scandal in the United States.

The pope began his visit by addressing an issue that has wounded the Catholic Church in the United States, telling reporters on his aircraft that the sexual abuse of children has caused “great suffering” for the church and “me personally.” The scandal has produced thousands of sexual abuse victims and about 5,000 accused priests since it erupted in 2002 and has cost the church more than $2 billion in settlements. He said “As I read the histories of those victims, it is difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way. Their mission was to give healing, to give the love of God to these children. We are deeply ashamed and we will do what is possible that this cannot happen in the future.”

But as pope, Benedict has done or said or done little publicly about the abuse issue until now. Advocates for victims have criticized the church for failing to call to account bishops who allowed abusive priests to remain in the ministry. Peter Isely, a national board member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that he was glad to hear the pope acknowledge the sexual abuse problem more clearly than before, but that words alone are not enough. “If you don’t reprimand, discipline and sanction bishops that know about sex crimes against children, then no matter else what you do, you are not getting at where the real problem is,” Mr. Isely said.