The Herald is reporting that the Pope met today with Boston area victims of clergy sex abuse,
NEW YORK CITY – Pope Benedict XVI met privately today with Boston victims of clergy sex abuse, a session long in coming for those abused.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, a papal spokesman, said that Benedict and Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley met with a small group of victims and offered them encouragement and hope.
Margery Eagan got it exactly right in the Herald this morning,
The fact is, the pope is not serious about changing the culture that created this mess. If he were, he’d have removed or ex-communicated not only bishops such as Bernard Cardinal Law, who knowingly shuffled abusers from parish to parish, but those accused of abusing children themselves.
Bernard Law is in pretty exclusive company within the Vatican. It is sickening.
Eagan lays out what has to be done,
Bishop-Accountabilty.org, a sobering Web site documenting the hierarchy’s continuing sins, just last weekend posted the names, pictures and abuse charges against 19 Catholic bishops who will never be tried – the statutes of limitations have run out.
They include nine retired bishops. Some have admitted guilt; others have lost hefty civil suits. Thomas L. Dupre of Springfield was accused in 2004 of sexually abusing two youths. He resigned, was indicted for rape but escaped prosecution because the statute of limitations expired.
Anthony J. O’Connell of Florida admitted abusing at least 10 children and stepped down in 2002. Likewise, Lawrence D. Soens of Davenport, Iowa, who was accused of abuse by more than 20 kids at the high school where he taught and was principal.
All three men retain their title as bishops emeritus, as well as the trappings of their office, plus the financial support of the church.
File this outrage under Unfinished Business.
Indeed it is. Yes, the pope has spoken out several times on the sex abuse scandal. But he has done nothing to date and is avoiding Boston and until today, the victims. This much is certain, bold action is not going to be taken. The status quo is nothing less than not good enough.