Pope challenges Irish bishops to rebuild the Church's credibility

Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic bishops of Ireland concluded on February 16 two days of meetings at the Vatican. According to a press statement, the pope and the Irish prelates met with senior members of the Roman Curia to discuss the serious situation which has emerged in the Church in Ireland. The statement read, "Together they examined the failure of Irish Church authorities for many years to act effectively in dealing with cases involving the sexual abuse of young people by some Irish clergy and religious. All those present recognized that this grave crisis has led to a breakdown in trust in the Church's leadership and has damaged her witness to the Gospel and its moral teaching."

While "a spirit of prayer and collegial fraternity," was said to have reigned in a "frank and open atmosphere," the statement averred that the pontiff "observed that the sexual abuse of children and young people is not only a heinous crime, but also a grave sin which offends God and wounds the dignity of the human person created in his image. While realizing that the current painful situation will not be resolved quickly, he challenged the Bishops to address the problems of the past with determination and resolve, and to face the present crisis with honesty and courage. He also expressed the hope that the present meeting would help to unify the Bishops and enable them to speak with one voice in identifying concrete steps aimed at bringing healing to those who had been abused, encouraging a renewal of faith in Christ and restoring the Church's spiritual and moral credibility." 

 "The Holy Father also pointed to the more general crisis of faith affecting the Church and he linked that to the lack of respect for the human person and how the weakening of faith has been a significant contributing factor in the phenomenon of the sexual abuse of minors. He stressed the need for a deeper theological reflection on the whole issue, and called for an improved human, spiritual, academic and pastoral preparation both of candidates for the priesthood and religious life and of those already ordained and professed."

The Irish bishops also had an opportunity to examine and discuss a draft of the pope's pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland. The letter is expected to be published during the balance of Lent, which began today. Lent is a period of 40 days set aside by Catholics as a tithe of the year, in which fasting and abstinence are practiced as well as reflection and penitenace for sin. The Catholic church is also facing growing concerns over accusations of sexual and other abuse lain against its clergy in Germany as revelations of such abuse are emerging from accounts given by former students in Catholic schools.