"Shame and Remorse" in the Vatican

The past several months have intensified the pressure on the Vatican to act more decisively on the allegations of the sexual and physical abuse of children by clergy members. The current wave of revelations has uncovered the systematic sexual abuse of children in Ireland, Austria, Germany, among other European countries. Worse still are widespread allegations that a massive cover-up has been occurring for many years in an attempt to protect both Church members and the reputation of the Vatican. The disturbing cases have hit very close to home for Pope Benedict XVI: there have been reports of child molestation within his own diocese in Germany.

In a sudden reversal of the previously tight-lipped Vatican on the issue, Pope Benedict issued a official papal letter this Saturday in what many have already called a landmark moment. Directed at the Irish Catholic Church, where sexual abuse has been particularly rampant, he says that he has experienced “shame and remorse” and is “truly sorry” for the Catholic leaders’ failures. He acknowledges the Irish Catholic Church’s attempts to hide the numerous sexual abuses. The Pope accepts that “no one imagines that this painful situation will be resolved swiftly” and that the image of the Catholic Church has been severely tarnished, turning members away from their faith.

The letter admonishes the local clergy for “[betraying] the trust that was placed in you by innocent young people and their parents” and states that “[guilty members] must answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals.” This is particularly important—not only does the Pope recognize the grave tragedy of the situation, but has called on the guilty to “submit to the demands of justice” to both clerical and secular authorities alike. Unlike previously, the spiritual leader of many millions worldwide has not downplayed the situation and has not tried to hide the errors of the Catholic clergy. “You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry,” Pope Benedict says in his letter. Perhaps the next step is for the Vatican to admit direct responsibility in this dark chapter of Catholicism.