Wie sieht es mit der Aufklärung aus? Von Ebba Hagenberg-Miliu Am 28. Januar 2010 erschütterte eine Nachricht aus dem Berliner Canisius-Kolleg die Republik: "Patres des Jesuitenordens haben Schüler missbraucht." Rektor Klaus Mertes, ehemaliger Schüler des Bonner Aloisiuskollegs (Ako), war mit Betroffenen an die Öffentlichkeit gegangen. In den Strudel gerieten viele Institutionen: darunter in Bonn das Collegium Josephinum das ehemalige St. Ludwig Kolleg der Franziskaner-Minoriten und das evangelische Godesheim, das Benediktinerkloster Ettal und die hessische Odenwaldschule. Auch das ehemalige Rheinbacher Pallottiner-Internat St. Albert entpuppte sich als Tatort: Hier outete sich BAP-Sänger Wolfgang Niedecken als Betroffener. Eine Lawine war losgetreten. Unzählige Menschen traten aus ›››

Zweite Vorsitzende des OSV schmeißt hin. Landes-Sportjugend rät zu Besonnenheit. von Christina Düvell-Veen Scharbeutz. Im Vorstand des 350 Mitglieder zählenden Ostseesportvereins (OSV) Scharbeutz- Haffkrug-Sierksdorf ist ein Streit darüber entbrannt, wie mit den Fällen von sexualisierter Gewalt gegen Kinder umzugehen ist. Die Auseinandersetzungen gipfelten in dem sofortigen Rücktritt der zweiten Vorsitzenden Veronika Denef. Sie hatte erst im Juni vergangenen Jahres entscheidend dazu beigetragen, dass der Verein nach turbulenten Ereignissen im Vorstand weiter existiert. Ursprung der Differenzen sind die vom Landessportverband (LSV) herausgegebenen „Handlungsempfehlungen für Sportvereine“. Die eindeutige und nach außen sichtbare Haltung des Sportvereins gegenüber diesem Thema könne potenzielle Täter und Täterinnen ›››

Grün-roter „Bildungsplan“: Tausende Familien protestieren gegen Gender-Ideologie Stuttgart - Skandal ohne Ende: Der sogenannte Bildungsplan der grün-roten Landesregierung in Baden-Württemberg würde zu einer Frühsexualisierung und zu einer Verletzung der natürlichen Schamgrenzen der Kinder führen - und wäre damit ein Einfallstor für Pädokriminelle. Das befürchten Eltern und Experten. Die CDU erwartet ein Scheitern des „Bildungsplans“. Neulich in Stuttgart: 3000 Menschen protestieren gegen den sogenannten „Bildungsplan“ der grün-roten Landesregierung. Es war bereits die fünfte derartige Demonstration. Kern der Demonstranten waren Eltern und ihre Kinder. Die Familien befürchten eine frühzeitige Übersexualisierung ihrer Kinder, Indoktrination mit der widernatürlichen Gender-Ideologie, die Verletzung natürlicher Schamgrenzen und damit ›››

In his first meeting with victims of clerical sex abuse, Pope Francis asked forgiveness on behalf of the church. ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:  At the Vatican today Pope Francis had his first meeting with victims of clergy. He vowed to hold bishops accountable for the protection of children. The meeting came nearly 16 months after Francis was elected. Victim support groups said it was long overdue. For more on this NPR's Sylvia Poggioli joins us from Rome. Hello Sylvia. SYLVIA POGGIOLI, BYLINE: Hello, Robert. SIEGEL: And I understand the Pope held a Mass with these victims, including a dramatic homily. What did ›››

Se reúne el Pontífice con seis sobrevivientes abusados por sacerdotes; critican que la reunión fue sólo un "acto de relaciones públicas" CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (AP)._ El Papa Francisco pidió perdón a víctimas de abusos sexuales por parte de clérigos en el primer encuentro con afectados, aunque un sobreviviente se quejó de que no fue más que un "acto de relaciones públicas". El Vaticano informó que el Pontífice expresó su "tristeza" por "los pecados y crímenes graves" cometidos por miembros del clero. En una misa privada con seis sobrevivientes de los abusos, el Papa expresó: "Les ruego perdón también, por los pecados ›››

Pope Francis met for the first time on Monday with six victims of pedophile clergy sex abuse. During the meeting, he expressed "sorrow" for the "sins and grave crimes" of clerical sex abuse and begged forgiveness. He also promised that the church would "make reparations." The six victims who met with Pope Francis were all Europeans, two each from Britain, Ireland and Germany. Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said the victims met with Francis Sunday night and later joined him for a private Mass Monday morning. After the Mass, he met with each victim privately in his apartment for about half ›››

Vatican City : Pope Francis begged forgiveness on Monday from the victims of clergy sex abuse as he held his first meeting with several abuse survivors but another victim called the gathering nothing more than ‘a PR event’. The Vatican quoted Francis as expressing personal ‘sorrow’ in his homily at a private Mass with six victims for the ‘sins and grave crimes’ of clerical sex abuse against them. Francis pledged “not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not,” and promised that bishops “will be held accountable”. “I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins ›››

Monday, during a private mass with victims of clerical sexual abuse, Pope Francis scolded Catholic bishops for their failure to act and protect children from predatory priests, stating their negligence led to greater suffering and warned they will be held accountable for their actions. This has been the strongest acknowledgment to date from the Vatican about the sex abuse crisis in the Church. According to a Vatican statement, Francis referred to priests who abuse children as a “sacrilegious cult”. Monday's meeting between Francis and the victims involved three men and three women from Britain, Ireland and Germany. They met with the ›››

One of the two Irish victims of clerical sex abuse who had a private audience with the Pope told him that senior cardinals involved in covering up child abuse should be removed from their positions. Marie Kane, 43, who had never spoken publicly about the abuse she suffered at the hands of a cleric in the Dublin archdiocese, was one of two Irish survivors of abuse who met Pope Francis at his Vatican hotel yesterday. The Irish survivors were assisted by abuse campaigner and abuse survivor Marie Collins. Two survivors from Britain and two from Germany also had individual meetings with ›››

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis begged forgiveness Monday in his first meeting with Catholics sexually abused by members of the clergy and went further than any of his predecessors by vowing to hold bishops accountable for their handling of pedophile priests. Abuse victims and their advocates have long demanded that higher-ups be made to answer for the decades-long cover-ups of rape and molestation of youngsters in a scandal that has rocked the church and dismayed its worldwide flock of 1.2 billion. The pope celebrated a private Mass with six victims — two each from Ireland, Britain and Germany — at his ›››

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis promised to hold bishops accountable for the protection of minors and begged forgiveness Monday from the victims of clergy sex abuse as he held his first meeting with several abuse survivors. The pope celebrated a Mass with six survivors at his Vatican hotel Monday, but in his homily he didn’t spell out whether that accountability would include firing bishops and other prelates who systematically shuffled pedophile priests from parish to parish to avoid bringing shame upon the Catholic Church. Victims’ advocacy groups around the world have pressed the Vatican for decades to severely discipline any complicit ›››

Rom/Vatikanstadt – Papst Franziskus hat erstmals Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs durch katholische Geistliche getroffen und sie um Vergebung «für diese Sünden und schweren Verbrechen» gebeten. Er feierte mit sechs Betroffenen aus Deutschland, Irland und Grossbritannien eine Morgenmesse. Papst Franziskus verurteilte die «Mittäterschaft» der katholischen Kirche beim sexuellen Missbrauch durch Geistliche. Die Verbrechen seien lange «verheimlicht und vertuscht worden, durch eine Mittäterschaft, die nicht zu erklären ist», sagte der Pontifex am Montag. «In der Geistlichkeit ist kein Platz für jene, die Missbrauch begehen», sagte er und bekräftigte, Vergehen an Minderjährigen nicht tolerieren zu wollen. Die Universalkirche müsse Minderjährige schützen und auch über die ›››

O papa Francisco pediu perdão a vítimas de abuso sexual por parte do clérigo no primeiro encontro com elas, embora um sobrevivente tenha se queixado de que não foi mais do que um "ato de relações públicas". O Vaticano informou que o pontífice expressou a sua "tristeza" pelos "pecados e crimes graves" cometido por membros do clero. "Peço-lhes perdão também por todos os pecados de omissão de parte de líderes da Igreja que não responderam adequadamente as denúncias de abuso feitas por familiares e pelas próprias vítimas", disse o papa em uma missa privada com os sobreviventes. Francisco prometeu ainda "não ›››

Silencio intenso en la parroquia de la casa Santa Marta, la residencia papal. “Desde hace tiempo siento en el corazón un profundo dolor, sufrimiento, tanto tiempo oculto, tanto tiempo disimulado con una complicidad que no tiene explicación”. La voz de Francisco, pausada y firme, estuvo dirigida a los seis adultos sentados allí, quienes en su niñez fueron víctimas de abusos sexuales cometidos por miembros de la Iglesia. “Humildemente pido perdón”. La frase llegó a lo más profundo de todos. Fue una disculpa que llegó con décadas de retraso, pero empezó a saldar una vieja deuda con cientos de niños y jóvenes ›››

Vatican City: Pope Francis has held his first meeting with a group of Catholics who were sexually abused by clergy. Vatican spokesman the Rev Federico Lombardi said two Irish, two British and two German victims met separately today for about 30 minutes apiece with Francis at the pope's Vatican hotel. None of the victims attended Lombardi's briefing with reporters. Lombardi said Francis had already greeted the six yesterday evening at dinner. Other abuse survivors not at the meeting contended the encounter won't ease complaints that the Vatican has failed to punish bishops and other prelates who systemically covered up the abuse ›››

Pope Francis met with six victims of sexually abusive priests at the Vatican on Monday, where he asked for their forgiveness. This is, at least, his second request following another public appeal back in April where he asked victims to forgive their abusers just before Easter. That move set off anti-abuse protestors who criticized the Catholic church’s slow movement to punish sexual predators, saying essentially 'It'd be easier to forgive if the Church was punishing people!' On Sunday night, the victims, shuttled in from Britain, Ireland and Germany, briefly met with Pope Francis and again on Monday for a private Mass, ›››

At the Vatican today Pope Francis had his first meeting with victims of clergy. He vowed to hold bishops accountable for the protection of children. The meeting came nearly 16 months after Francis was elected. Victim support groups said it was long overdue. For more on this NPR's Sylvia Poggioli joins us from Rome. Hello Sylvia. SYLVIA POGGIOLI, BYLINE: Hello, Robert. SIEGEL: And I understand the Pope held a Mass with these victims, including a dramatic homily. What did he say? POGGIOLI: Well, the Pope pronounced his strongest words yet on clerical sex abuse. He begged forgiveness from the victims and ›››

The Vatican quoted Francis as expressing personal 'sorrow' in his homily at a private Mass with six victims for the 'sins and grave crimes' of clerical sex abuse against them. One victim, 43-year-old Mary Kane of Dublin, told The Irish Times, ‘He seemed genuinely frustrated at what he was hearing … There was a lot of empathy.’ Pope Francis donned the mantle of shame Monday and personally begged forgiveness from six Catholics who were preyed on by pedophile priests. “Before God and his people, I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse against you,” the ›››

On Monday, Pope Francis met with victims of clergy sex abuse for the first time, according to Buzzfeed. During a small mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis asked for forgiveness for all the past abuse the clergy has inflicted upon the sex abuse survivors. "There is no place in the church's ministry for those who commit these abuses, and I commit myself not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether cleric or not," Francis said during mass. This apology is being called a publicity stunt by some, like Norbert Denef, a spokesperson for a German advocacy group ›››

Pope Francis begged forgiveness Monday from the victims of clergy sex abuse as he held his first meeting with several abuse survivors – but a victim spokesman called the gathering nothing more than "a PR event." The Vatican quoted Francis as expressing personal "sorrow" in his homily at a private Mass with six victims for the "sins and grave crimes" of clerical sex abuse against them. Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said two Irish, two British and two German victims met with the pope. The three men and three women who had been sexually abused as youths by clergy met ›››

Pope Francis begged for forgiveness from survivors of sex abuse in the Catholic Church during a homily he delivered Monday in front of victims. “Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness,” Francis said, according to a transcript from the Vatican. “I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of church leaders who did not respond adequately to reports of abuse made by family members, as well as by abuse victims themselves. This led to even greater ›››

Pope Francis has apologized for the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clerics. The pontiff expressed his regrets for the Church's 'sin' at a meeting with a group of victims of abuse – the first time a pope has met such a group inside the Vatican. The Pope had a private morning Mass with six adult Catholics – two Irish, two Brits and two Germans – who were sexually abused by clergy, on Monday. He delivered a speech in what has been called "the strongest words ever." "I ask for the grace to weep, the grace for the Church to weep ›››

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis begged forgiveness Monday from the victims of clergy sex abuse as he held his first meeting with several abuse survivors -- but another victim called the gathering nothing more than "a PR event." The Vatican quoted Francis as expressing personal "sorrow" in his homily at a private Mass with six victims for the "sins and grave crimes" of clerical sex abuse against them. Francis pledged "not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not," and promised that bishops "will be held accountable. "I beg your forgiveness, too, for the ›››

Papst Franziskus hat erstmals Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs durch katholische Geistliche getroffen. Er feierte am Montag mit sechs Betroffenen aus Deutschland, Irland und Großbritannien die Morgenmesse und widmete sich anschließend in ausführlichen Gesprächen jedem Einzelnen der drei Männer und drei Frauen. Die Begegnung im Vatikan war bereits seit längerer Zeit geplant. Die katholische Kirche war vom Skandal um jahrzehntelangen Missbrauch an Heranwachsenden in zahlreichen Ländern massiv erschüttert worden. Franziskus' Vorgänger Benedikt XVI. hatte sich insgesamt fünfmal mit Menschen getroffen, die in katholischen Kirchen und Einrichtungen sexuell missbraucht worden waren, so in den USA und in Deutschland. Die Messe feierten Jorge Mario Bergoglio ›››

Cidade do Vaticano - O papa Francisco pediu perdão a vítimas de abuso sexual por parte do clérigo no primeiro encontro com elas, embora um sobrevivente tenha se queixado de que não foi mais do que um "ato de relações públicas". O Vaticano informou que o pontífice expressou a sua "tristeza" pelos "pecados e crimes graves" cometido por membros do clero. "Peço-lhes perdão também por todos os pecados de omissão de parte de líderes da Igreja que não responderam adequadamente as denúncias de abuso feitas por familiares e pelas próprias vítimas", disse o papa em uma missa privada com os sobreviventes. ›››

The encounter with victims from Britain, Ireland and Germany was low key. They met the pope briefly Sunday night, and then joined him for a private Mass on Monday morning, according to Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi. After that, he met with each in his private apartment for about 30 minutes of informal discussions about their individual experiences. The Vatican did not release the names of the victims, and none attended Lombardi's briefing to the media. However, the Vatican said Francis expressed "sorrow" for the "sins and grave crimes" of the clerical abuse against them. "I beg your forgiveness, too, for ›››

O papa Francisco pediu perdão a vítimas de abuso sexual por parte do clérigo no primeiro encontro com elas, embora um sobrevivente tenha se queixado de que não foi mais do que um "ato de relações públicas". O Vaticano informou que o pontífice expressou a sua "tristeza" pelos "pecados e crimes graves" cometido por membros do clero. "Peço-lhes perdão também por todos os pecados de omissão de parte de líderes da Igreja que não responderam adequadamente as denúncias de abuso feitas por familiares e pelas próprias vítimas", disse o papa em uma missa privada com os sobreviventes. Francisco prometeu ainda "não ›››

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (AP) _ El papa Francisco pidió perdón a víctimas de abusos sexuales por parte de clérigos en el primer encuentro con afectados, aunque un sobreviviente se quejó de que no fue más que un “acto de relaciones públicas”. El Vaticano informó que el pontífice expresó su “tristeza” por “los pecados y crímenes graves” cometidos por miembros del clero. En una misa privada con seis sobrevivientes de los abusos, el papa expresó: “Les ruego perdón también, por los pecados de omisión de parte de líderes de la Iglesia que no respondieron adecuadamente” a las denuncias de abusos “hechas por ›››

Pope Francis has promised to hold bishops accountable for the protection of minors and begged forgiveness from the victims of clergy sex abuse during his first meeting with survivors. The pope celebrated a Mass with six survivors at his Vatican hotel today but in his homily he did not spell out whether that accountability would include firing bishops and other prelates who shuffled paedophile priests between parishes to avoid bringing shame upon the Catholic Church. Victims' advocacy groups around the world have pressed the Vatican for decades to severely discipline any complicit church hierarchy. One of the six, Irish woman Marie ›››

Pope Francis met with victims of clergy sex abuse for the first time on Monday. During a small private mass at a Vatican chapel, he asked the victims for forgiveness and called the abuse a “grave sin," according to BuzzFeed. “There is no place in the church’s ministry for those who commit these abuses, and I commit myself not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not,” said Francis during the mass. Francis’ mass was called a publicity stunt by some critics. Norbert Denef, a spokesman for a German advocacy group for clergy sex ›››

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis met and prayed with six European victims of pedophile priests for the first time Monday, a gesture that placed greater focus on the sexual abuse scandals that have tarnished the Roman Catholic Church's image. The encounter with victims from Britain, Ireland and Germany was low key. They met the pope briefly Sunday night, and then joined him for a private Mass on Monday morning, according to Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi. After that, he met with each in his private apartment for about 30 minutes of informal discussions about their individual experiences. The Vatican did not ›››

Pope Francis met with victims of clergy sex abuse for the first time on Monday. During a small private mass at a Vatican chapel, he asked the victims for forgiveness and called the abuse a “grave sin.” “There is no place in the church’s ministry for those who commit these abuses, and I commit myself not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not,” said Francis during the mass. Francis’ mass was called a publicity stunt by some critics. Norbert Denef, a spokesman for a German advocacy group for clergy sex abuse survivors, called ›››

Pope Francis, in his strongest words ever on the sexual abuse of minors by Roman Catholic clerics, told survivors Monday that their abuse was "camouflaged with a complicity" and begged forgiveness. The private meeting – the first with abuse victims since Francis was elected in March 2013 – had been long awaited by survivor support groups, who have criticized the pope for not acting earlier. In the sermon at a Mass with six abuse survivors present, Francis said the Church must "must weep and make reparation" for what happened, and he pleaded for forgiveness for what he said had become "a ›››

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis begged forgiveness Monday in his first meeting with Catholics sexually abused by members of the clergy and went further than any of his predecessors by vowing to hold bishops accountable for their handling of pedophile priests. Abuse victims and their advocates have long demanded that higher-ups be made to answer for the decades-long cover-ups of rape and molestation of youngsters in a scandal that has rocked the church and dismayed its worldwide flock of 1.2 billion. The pope celebrated a private Mass with six victims - two each from Ireland, Britain and Germany - at ›››

O papa Francisco pediu perdão a vítimas de abuso sexual por parte do clérigo no primeiro encontro com elas, realizado hoje, dia 7 de julho. O Vaticano informou que o pontífice expressou a sua "tristeza" pelos "pecados e crimes graves" cometido por membros do clero. "Peço-lhes perdão também por todos os pecados de omissão de parte de líderes da Igreja que não responderam adequadamente as denúncias de abuso feitas por familiares e pelas próprias vítimas", disse o papa em uma missa privada com os sobreviventes. Francisco prometeu ainda "não tolerar o dano feito a um menor por parte de qualquer indivíduo, ›››

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO - El Papa Francisco pidió perdón a víctimas de abusos sexuales por parte de clérigos en el primer encuentro con afectados, aunque un sobreviviente se quejó de que no fue más que un "acto de relaciones públicas". El Vaticano informó que el pontífice expresó su "tristeza" por "los pecados y crímenes graves" cometidos por miembros del clero. En una misa privada con seis sobrevivientes de los abusos, el Papa expresó: "Les ruego perdón también, por los pecados de omisión de parte de líderes de la Iglesia que no respondieron adecuadamente" a las denuncias de abusos "hechas por familiares ›››

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis met and prayed with six European victims of pedophile priests for the first time Monday, a gesture that placed greater focus on the sexual abuse scandals that have tarnished the Roman Catholic Church's image. The encounter with victims from Britain, Ireland and Germany was low key. They met the pope briefly Sunday night, and then joined him for a private Mass on Monday morning, according to Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi. After that, he met with each in his private apartment for about 30 minutes of informal discussions about their individual experiences. The Vatican did not ›››

Today, Pope Francis begged forgiveness from the victims of clergy sex abuse as he held his first meeting with several abuse survivors, since his election. Pope Francis expressed personal sorrow at a private mass with six victims for the “sins and grave crimes” of clerical sex abuse against them. Victims were two British, two Irish and two German. They included three men and three women who had been abused sexually as youths by clergy. They all met with Francis at his Vatican residence for about half -hour each. “I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part ›››

Der Missbrauchsskandal hatte die katholische Kirche schwer erschüttert. Jetzt trifft sich auch Papst Franziskus mit Opfern von Geistlichen und bittet um Verzeihung. Darunter sind zwei Deutsche. Rom. (dpa) Papst Franziskus hat erstmals Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs durch katholische Geistliche getroffen und sie dabei demütig um Vergebung "für diese Sünden und schweren Verbrechen" gebeten. Er feierte am Montag mit sechs Betroffenen aus Deutschland, Irland und Großbritannien eine bewegende Morgenmesse. Danach widmete sich der Papst in ausführlichen Gesprächen - insgesamt drei Stunden lang - jedem Einzelnen der geschändeten drei Männer und drei Frauen. Die katholische Kirche war vom Skandal um jahrzehntelangen Missbrauch an Heranwachsenden ›››

Der Missbrauchsskandal hatte die katholische Kirche schwer erschüttert. Am Montag hat sich auch Papst Franziskus mit Opfern von Geistlichen getroffen und um Verzeihung. gebeten. Darunter sind zwei deutsche Betroffene. Papst Franziskus hat erstmals Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs durch katholische Geistliche getroffen und sie dabei demütig um Vergebung „für diese Sünden und schweren Verbrechen“ gebeten. Er feierte am Montag mit sechs Betroffenen aus Deutschland, Irland und Großbritannien eine bewegende Morgenmesse. Danach widmete sich der Papst in ausführlichen Gesprächen - insgesamt drei Stunden lang - jedem Einzelnen der geschändeten drei Männer und drei Frauen. Die katholische Kirche war vom Skandal um jahrzehntelangen Missbrauch an ›››

Sechs Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs durch katholische Geistliche kommen zu einem persönlichen Gespräch mit Papst Franziskus zusammen. Deutsche Betroffene kritisieren, das Treffen sei "nichts weiter als eine PR-Veranstaltung". Rom - Papst Franziskus hat erstmals Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs durch katholische Geistliche getroffen. Er feierte am Montag mit sechs Betroffenen aus Deutschland, Irland und Großbritannien die Morgenmesse und widmete sich anschließend in ausführlichen Gesprächen jedem Einzelnen der drei Männer und drei Frauen. Die Begegnung im Vatikan war bereits seit längerer Zeit geplant. Die katholische Kirche war vom Skandal um jahrzehntelangen Missbrauch an Heranwachsenden in zahlreichen Ländern massiv erschüttert worden. Franziskus’ Vorgänger Benedikt XVI. hatte ›››

VATICAN CITY >> Pope Francis begged forgiveness Monday from the victims of clergy sex abuse as he held his first meeting with several abuse survivors — but another victim called the gathering nothing more than “a PR event.” The Vatican quoted Francis as expressing personal “sorrow” in his homily at a private Mass with six victims for the “sins and grave crimes” of clerical sex abuse against them. Francis pledged “not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not,” and promised that bishops “will be held accountable.” “I beg your forgiveness, too, for the ›››

The Vatican quoted Francis as expressing "sorrow" in his homily at a private Mass with six victims today for the "sins and grave crimes" of clerical sex abuse against them. The Pope added: "I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of Church leaders who did not respond adequately." Earlier, Vatican spokesman the Reverend Federico Lombardi said two Irish, two British and two German victims had met separately for about 30 minutes apiece with Francis at the pope's Vatican hotel. He said Francis had already greeted the six on Sunday evening at dinner. Other abuse survivors ›››