Catholic bishops and priests were today urged to demonstrate true remorse for clerical child sex abuse after Pope Benedict publicly apologised to victims in Australia.
The One-in-Four support group welcomed the Pope’s strong apology but warned previous words had not been matched by actions in the Catholic Church’s hierarchy.
The Pope told Australian bishops and seminarians he was deeply sorry for clerical abuse and that perpetrators must be brought justice.
But One-in-Four, which has worked with hundreds of those who have suffered, said victims found it hard to accept that the Pope, and the clergy, shared in their suffering.
“The difficulty in terms of these apologies is when they are not demonstrated,” Deirdre Fitzpatrick, the charity’s advocacy director, said.
“In our experience some people may receive it in a positive light but many, as was the case when the Pope made his apology in America, were deeply upset.
“They (victims) are not receiving any human response from the individual Diocese or religious orders and they struggle then when they hear a Pope who says he is sorry and trying to make amends.
“While they have an apology, they may not experience that from some Bishops.”
Pope Benedict described the acts of abusive clerics as evil and a grave betrayal of trust that had disgraced the church.
“I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy ... in this country,” the Pope said.
“I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured. I assure them as their pastor that I too share in their suffering.”
“Those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice.”
In the wake of a series of devastating clerical abuse scandals through the 1990s, the State’s Catholic bishops committed themselves to publishing how Dioceses were handling complaints.
Ms Fitzpatrick said less than a handful of the 26 Dioceses had done so.
The Dublin Archdiocese has been carrying out a massive investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse against priests who have worked in the capital.
More than 100 priests were involved in the investigation going back to 1940.
At least 380 people have complained of clerical abuse.
The inquiry is expected to report early next year prompting speculation Pope Benedict may then visit Ireland. He said last November he hoped to travel there following the elevation of Cardinal Sean Brady.
PA