Pope Benedict said on Saturday the wounds from sexual abuse in the Irish Church "run deep", and instructed bishops there to do whatever necessary to prevent repeat offences and rebuild confidence. Pope Benedict was speaking to Irish bishops gathering at the Vatican, Reuters stated.
The Pope, in rare comments about the sensitive issue, said the Church needed to establish the truth about abuses and ensure that "the principles of justice are fully respected".
Although he was addressing bishops from Ireland, which had one of the Church's worst sexual abuse scandals, the words will resonate in other parts of the world Reuters said.
Reuters reported the Pope saying that it is important to establish the truth of what happened in the past and to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from occurring again. “Above all, (it is important) to bring healing to the victims and to all those affected by these egregious crimes.”
Gozo too was in the limelight recently following allegations that Fr. Anthony Mercieca, a Gozitan resident, had an “inappropriate” relationship with former United States Republican Congressman Mark Foley in Florida around 40 years ago.
Mercieca, 69, admitted fondling Foley and being naked in saunas with him when Foley was a boy in the 1960s. Foley, 52, resigned from Congress last month after the release of sexually explicit computer messages he sent to teenage male pages. His lawyers later acknowledged he was gay and said Foley had been molested as a boy by a clergyman.
The Gozo Diocese is investigating these allegations.
Meanwhile, Fr Mercieca has denied a second molestation allegation set forward by a former altar boy identified as John Doe No. 26. The man alleged that that abuse took place in the 1970s when he was 12 years old.
See also:
Gozo Diocese probing alleged sexual abuse
By MaltaMedia News - Oct 20, 2006, 10:43 CET
See also:
Gozitan Priest denies second molestation claim
By MaltaMedia News - Oct 27, 2006, 13:01 CET
