Post #16

Excerpt from: Pope Benedict meets Church 'sex abuse victims' in Malta

by BBC World News

Pope Benedict XVI has met alleged victims of sexual abuse by priests in Malta, saying the Church will do all in its power to punish abusers.

The Pope also "expressed his shame and sorrow over what victims and their families have suffered", a Vatican statement said.

The meeting took place at the end of the pontiff's visit to Malta.

Three priests are accused of sexually abusing orphan children on Malta in the 1980s and 1990s.

'Renewed hope'

"The Holy Father met a small group of persons who were sexually abused by members of the clergy," the statement said.

"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.

"In the spirit of his recent Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, he prayed that all the victims of abuse would experience healing and reconciliation, enabling them to move forward with renewed hope," the statement added.

The Archbishop of Malta, Paul Cremona, earlier told worshippers at a Mass attended by the Pope that the Catholic Church must recognise what he called the failures and sins of its members.

The Pope is making a pilgrimage to the Mediterranean island in the footsteps of St Paul.

Malta is an Apostolic See; the Acts of the Apostles tells of how St. Paul, on his way from Crete to Rome to face trial, was shipwrecked on the island of "Melite", which many Bible scholars identify with Malta, an episode dated around AD 60.[11] The Acts of the Apostles says St. Paul spent three months on the island, curing the sick including the father of Publius, the "chief man of the island". Various traditions are associated with this account. The shipwreck is said to have occurred in the place today known as St Paul's Bay. Saint Publius is said to have been made Malta's first bishop and a grotto in Rabat, now known as "St Paul's Grotto" (and in the vicinity of which evidence of Christian burials and rituals from 3rd century AD has been found), is amongst the earliest known places of Christian worship on the island.  (Wikipedia)