Pope Francis released an open letter calling for repentance and accountability following an extensive report on sex abuse committed by Catholic priests and the cover-up by church leadership.
"We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them," wrote Francis, according to a copy posted by CNN. "Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient."
Last week, a Pennsylvania grand jury released a 1,300-page report describing in detail how 301 priests abused more than 1,000 children over the past several decades and how church hierarchy shielded the perpetrators from accountability.
In the letter released by the Vatican released on Monday, the pope acknowledged with "shame and repentance" the failures of the church to act against the abusers.
"... we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives," Pope Francis said.
He went on to note various efforts at accountability being done in response to the abuse scandal, including "implementing zero tolerance and ways of making all those who perpetrate or cover up these crimes accountable."
"We have delayed in applying these actions and sanctions that are so necessary, yet I am confident that they will help to guarantee a greater culture of care in the present and future," continued the pope.
Source cp.
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