Cardinals at a crisis Vatican meeting on child sex scandals said last night there would be no change in the Catholic Church's rule on celibacy, saying there was no link between it and paedophilia.
"Together with the fact that a link between celibacy and paedophilia cannot be scientifically maintained, the meeting reaffirmed the value of priestly celibacy as a gift of God to the church," a final statement said.
Critics of the celibacy ruling say it would prevent cases of paedophilia, but the participants at the unprecedented two-day meeting rejected this.
Church officials insist there is no link between paedophilia and the church's rule on celibacy, saying most paedophilia in society takes place within families.
"It is not the easiest road in today's crazy world but we believe in celibacy," Cardinal Theodore McCarrick told a news conference when asked if there would be any change in the celibacy rule.
American cardinals who came to the Vatican told US priests yesterday they regretted that mistakes by bishops had not prevented the scandal from getting out of hand. In a statement addressed to US priests the cardinals said: "At our meeting, you have been very much in our minds and hearts, for we know the heavy burden of sorrow and shame that you are bearing because some have betrayed the grace of ordination by abusing those entrusted to their care.
"We regret that episcopal oversight has not been able to preserve the church from this scandal.
"The entire church, the bride of Christ, is afflicted by this wound - the victims and their families first of all, but also you who have dedicated your lives to the priestly service of the Gospel of God.
"To all of you we express our deep gratitude for all that you do to build up the body of Christ in holiness and love. We pledge to support you in every possible way through these troubled times, and we ask that you stay close to us in the bond of the priesthood as we make every effort to bring the healing grace of Christ to the people whom we serve."
The American cardinals proposed a national day of prayer and reparation in the US for offences committed by paedophile priests.
"It would be fitting for the bishops of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to ask the faithful to join them in observing a national day of prayer and penance, in reparation for the offences perpetrated and in prayer to God for the conversion of sinners and the reconciliation of victims," it said.