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Pope to sign letter on sex abuse Pope to sign letter on sex abuse
(about 3 hours later)
Pope Benedict has written a pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland with guidelines on preventing and punishing sexual abuse of children by priests.Pope Benedict has written a pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland with guidelines on preventing and punishing sexual abuse of children by priests.
Scandals involving Roman Catholic priest paedophiles have been reported recently from a number of countries, including the Pope's native Germany. Scandals involving Roman Catholic priests have been reported recently from a number of countries, including the Pope's native Germany.
So, by implication, the measures decided by the Pope will have a much wider application than Ireland alone.
It is unknown if the letter, to be read at Sunday Mass, includes an apology.It is unknown if the letter, to be read at Sunday Mass, includes an apology.
Credibility at stake The Vatican recently denounced attempts to link the Pope to a child abuse scandal in Germany.
In recent months paedophile scandals have also rocked the Church in the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says that by implication, the measures decided by the Pope will have a much wider application than Ireland alone.
'Healing process'
The Pope has announced he will sign the letter on Friday and it will be sent immediately to the bishops of Ireland in preparation for it to be read out in churches there on Sunday.The Pope has announced he will sign the letter on Friday and it will be sent immediately to the bishops of Ireland in preparation for it to be read out in churches there on Sunday.
The text will be published at the Vatican on Saturday. The text will be published by the Vatican on Saturday.
The Pope's message will certainly express contrition for what he himself has already described as shameful and hateful behaviour by priests not only in Ireland but also in America, his native Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and even Australia. The Pope has said he hopes it will "help in the process of repentance, healing and renewal".
The message is expected to express contrition for what he himself has already described as shameful and hateful behaviour by some priests.
What was first perceived in Rome as a series of local scandals has now escalated into a worldwide problem for the Catholic Church with new allegations emerging each week from Catholics claiming they have been victims of sexual abuse by priests.What was first perceived in Rome as a series of local scandals has now escalated into a worldwide problem for the Catholic Church with new allegations emerging each week from Catholics claiming they have been victims of sexual abuse by priests.
The implications for the Vatican are serious. The implications for the Vatican are serious, our correspondent says.
The credibility of the Church as a guardian of morals is at stake - and the prospect of an avalanche of claims for compensation by victims threatens the financial ruin of some dioceses, as has already happened in the US, where the greatest number of cases has been reported. The credibility of the Church as a guardian of morals is at stake. And there is the prospect of an avalanche of claims for compensation by victims.
That could lead to financial ruin in some dioceses, as has already happened in the US, where the greatest number of cases has been reported.