US Catholics Seek Bold Papal Action on Sex Abuse

It will be interesting to see whether or not Benedict XVI will recognize the need to take some bold action in terms of apologizing for the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church since 2002 and cost the Church over $2 Billion in the USA alone. Personally, anything short of the removal of all bishops and cardinals involved in abuse cover ups with the offenders sent away in disgrace will fall short and indicate that the apology is disingenuous. I believe the Church hierarchy is remorseful only (a) because the scandal came out in the first place and (b) due to the moneys lost by the Church. I belieive that Benedict, like much of the clery, has no concept as to how offensive most Catholics deem the abuse cover up or how inexcusably callous the Church's response has been to date. Here are highlights from Reuters :

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Catholics angered and demoralized by the priest sex abuse scandal say one man can help revitalize the Church with bold action: Pope Benedict. Some advocates for the victims want the pope to apologize, others want him to permanently ban child molesters from the priesthood, or publicly identify them.

In addition to apologizing, Pope Benedict and all our bishops should meet with survivors, listen to their stories, and treat them with respect and compassion," said Dan Bartley, president of Voice of the Faithful, a Boston-based group formed after the scandal erupted there.

Barbara Blaine, who formed the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, suspects the pope may meet with carefully selected victims in what she called a public relations gesture. She said the Church continues to protect the identities of abusers and the bishops who know of their sins. "The stakes are so high. Children are at risk. There's a public safety crisis still in America today," Blaine said. "We need something bold from the pope and we sure hope it will come during his visit."