May 11th, 2010
10:26 AM ET

Pope calls reality of sex abuse scandal 'terrifying'

Pope Benedict XVI made one of his strongest statements to date on the sex abuse scandal sweeping the Roman Catholic Church, saying Tuesday the reality he has seen is "terrifying."

And he distanced himself from criticism of the media by senior Vatican officials, saying the most important attacks on the church don't come from the outside, they come from the sins of the members of the church, CNN senior Vatican analyst John Allen said.

Benedict was speaking on his plane en route to Portugal, where he is making a four-day visit.

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Filed under: Church Abuse • Vatican
soundoff (61 Responses)
  1. shawn thomas

    Then, I presume, that makes abusive priests terrorist. Maybe they should be prosecuted as such.

    May 11, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Burbank

    I find it absolutely amazing how millions and millions of people will allow an organization riddled with child molesters to tell them what they can and can't do in the bedroom! Especially in regards to birth control! Some the most severely overpopulated countries in Latin America as well as Haitii and other Catholic countries are that way due to the teachings of the Church. Hopefully these people will learn from this and start using birth control to get their populations within sustainable levels. How come the Church never EVER says it's wrong to have children you can't afford to feed or care for but will tell you not to use birth control??? Producing kids that will starve is a form a child abuse, it's a SIN, plain and simple. – But then the Church isn't interested in protecting kids in the first place.....

    May 11, 2010 at 12:16 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Tom

    We shouldnt arrest the pope, We should be arresting the devil. If you let these evil things take you away from church, your love for God, then the devil accomplished what he set out to do. Pray and keep going to church, keep your eyes on God and the love of jesus – these are the things that will save you in the end. Pray for the pope that he can become a leader in our fight against the Evil darkness temptation in this world. Dont let the devil win

    Michelle – there's no such a thing as horned beasts dwelling in the underworld aiming to claw us away from god. There are real life perpatrators and real-life victims here. Justice is served in reality only.

    May 11, 2010 at 12:24 pm | Report abuse |
  4. maureen

    The catholic church is a cover up for pedophiles . The pope and the pope before him did nothing to help the victims. The molester doesn't deserve a second chance. They've ruined a child's life.They should be subjected to harsher sentences than the regular public because of the disguise of honor.I was raised catholic and remember always being afraid of the priests and nuns. They were never kind. It was an atmosphere of punishment! The priest wouldn't let us use the bathroom, and kids would wet their pants and be mocked., to name 1 memory. To hell with organized religion , and the dumb sheep that believe in it. !!!

    May 11, 2010 at 1:23 pm | Report abuse |
  5. JT

    Wow...read #48. That could have been written in 1611. It's 2010! It's frightening how many people still believe this garbage. It's thinking like this that the child rapists depend upon to allow them to continue their assault.

    May 11, 2010 at 1:27 pm | Report abuse |
  6. James

    The Nazi pope's words are useless to me. I'm sure he's really good at talking. However his action/inaction says everything I need to know.

    He calls it terrifying ? As in he's really upset all those nasty skeletons are poking out of the church closet? Come on. This is the same organization that staged 16 crusades and an inquisition. The word 'Good' doesn't really seem to follow the church around according to history.

    May 11, 2010 at 1:56 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Lynn

    Pope Benedict,
    I pray for your peace. I pray for healing for the branch of Christ's church that is the Roman Catholic church. You must believe. The Great Physician will hear your prayers in Heaven!
    Mark 11:21
    "So Jesus answered and said "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
    "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will revieve them and you will have them."
    AMEN!

    May 11, 2010 at 2:04 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Reality Joe

    I think the church needs to look at the core issue. Priests should be allowed to marry as other clergy do in many other religions where this child abuse problem is not pervasive.

    May 11, 2010 at 10:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • dan

      Joe,
      allowing priests to marry will not change anyting. This rule is known to to all men before they entre seminar. What should be done is a better selection of those who enter seminaries (sorry if the spelling is wrong). Child abuse is common with men who have a close relation with the child. It is more commmon with parents. What's more, it happens in other religions.
      One thing I notice is that when a budist says he is a celibatarian, people praise that decision; when a jewish couple says they will remain virgin until after the marriage (something I praise), people say they respect their decision saying it is something very nice. However, when it comes to the Catholic Church, once someone says somethig about celibacy of priets or remaining virgin for the wedding, many judge, condemn.
      I'm not saying you do this, but I say it happens, and it is not uncommon

      July 19, 2010 at 9:13 am | Report abuse |
  9. Augustin

    I never watch Oprah. I apologize for the iarmegy, but I'd rather rip out my own eyes with salad forks than watch that hideous, vapid cow.On the topic, I read Kathleen Parker's book "Save the Males" and couldn't read past chapter 7. Most depressing book I ever read in my life. Any woman that thinks life as a man in contemporary America is just a joyride should read that book. Also, "No More Mr. Nice Guy" by Dr. Robert A. Glover, which I'm reading now. Also addresses how life as a man in western society can be an exercise in getting your head completely f'ed up.Just my 2 cents. You may now amble about the cabin.

    July 14, 2012 at 3:13 am | Report abuse |
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