Pope vows to protect kids, and punish abusers

[Philosoraptor]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/04/18/2010-04-18_pope_vows_to_protect_and_punish_in_growing_pedophile_scandal.html


Pope Benedict met with victims of pedophile priests Sunday morning in Malta and vowed the church would take action to protect children from abuse.

"He prayed with them and assured them that the church is doing, and will continue to do, all in its power to investigate allegations, to bring to justice those responsible for abuse and to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future," the Vatican said in a statement after the meeting in Malta.

The Vatican has been rocked by charges that the Pope helped cover up sexual abuse by priests in his previous posts as Archbishop of Munich and later as a high-ranking Vatican official.


"It was such a beautiful experience. I can't describe it," said Lawrence Grech, 37, one of 10 Maltese victims who said they were abused by four priests at a Catholic orphanage. "I told him I am filled with emptiness and he told me he understands."Benedict did not apologize, Grech said. He didn't directly address the scandal at a Mass Sunday morning.

[pipi_k]

1. In other news, people have reported seeing pigs and cows flying over New Jersey

Which I would believe before whatever the Pope says...

[The Magistrate]

7. The Report In 'The Onion'. Ma'am, Would Seem To Have The Gist Down Better....

http://www.theonion.com/articles/pope-vows-to-get-church-pedophilia-down-to-accepta,17201/

[pipi_k]

19. Hah! Probably closer to the truth than we'd all like to think, too...

The Onion always makes the tongue-in-cheek seem very believable

[eShirl]

2. In other news, fox vows to protect poultry.

[Ian David]

3. "And THIS time, I mean it. Really. I mean it this time." n/t

[SidDithers]

4. Too little, too late...nt

Sid

[Arkana]

5. "Wait, no, sorry...strike that, reverse it."

[mikelgb]

9. beat me

[Goblinmonger]

6. He's a lying sack of shit.

I'm sure someone will tell me that is anti-Catholic bigotry.

[AngryOldDem]

8. I have known abuse victims who would have settled for an apology,

I have heard them say that if only they had gotten a **sincere** apology from anyone in the hierarchy, it would have been enough. It was only after being stonewalled, insulted, and ignored that their anger grew to take it to the next level.

I don't know what to make of that kind of charity or grace because it's not in me to be so forgiving. These guys need to be arrested, tried, and put in jail. Period.

I predict you will NEVER hear a direct, formal apology from the Church on this. It will always be couched in terms of "society" or "sick individuals"; or it will be like what we've heard, a general mea culpa that implicates the entire world of Christianity. It will continue to deflect the blame. The Church thinks it is so far above earthly matters and common law that nothing will reach it. Some see that as arrogance; I'm coming to see it as pathological narcissism.

[WeDidIt]

10. Pope vows to put toothpaste back in tube.

Pope further vows to unring a bell.

[havocmom]

11. After trying to blame abuse on a series of designated scapegoats,

and obviously feeling the foul breath of the Grim Reaper on his own cheek, he suddenly gets religion?

Piss on his desperate PR attempts to polish his image!

[metapunditedgy]

12. And what previous policy is this replacing, EXACTLY? n/t

[undeterred]

13. Pope vows to protect priests, ignore sexually abused children.

[metapunditedgy]

16. For an organization with (they claim) 2000 years of political experience, the Vatican really is

politically tone-deaf.

[undeterred]

17. It has been said that the Catholic Church thinks in centuries

and on many subjects they're a few centuries behind.

[dorkulon]

14. Sorry about letting all those priests molest you. I won't do it again, honest! nt

[City Lights]

15. What a crock!

Have you no shame, Pope Benedict?

[piratefish08]

18. if he 'pinkie swears' i'll believe him.

until then he's still a filthy, lying, pedophile enabler. at best.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

20. The truth:

http://www.kill5.com/game.php?id=vatican_city

[asdjrocky]

21. Yeah, I hear he'll hide them under his robe.

Sick evil bastard.