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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Papal letter on Irish sex abuse | Papal letter on Irish sex abuse |
| (about 7 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. |
| It follows revelations last year of paedophilia within the Irish Catholic Church, which rocked the institution. | It follows revelations last year of paedophilia within the Irish Catholic Church, which rocked the institution. |
| Scandals involving Roman Catholic priests have also been reported from a number of other countries, including the Pope's native Germany. | Scandals involving Roman Catholic priests have also been reported from a number of other countries, including the Pope's native Germany. |
| 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. |
| The Vatican recently denounced attempts to link the Pope to a child sex scandal in Germany. | The Vatican recently denounced attempts to link the Pope to a child sex scandal in Germany. |
| FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from The World At One | FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from The World At One |
| His former diocese said he once unwittingly approved housing for a priest accused of child abuse. | His former diocese said he once unwittingly approved housing for a priest accused of child abuse. |
| In recent months paedophile scandals have also rocked the Church in the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. | 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. | 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' | '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 by the Vatican on Saturday. | The text will be published by the Vatican on Saturday. |
| ABUSE SCANDALS THIS YEAR Germany: About 300 cases of alleged abuse reportedNetherlands: Bishops order probe into more than 200 alleged casesSwitzerland: Probe finds 60 alleged victims over past 15 years, Swiss media reportAustria: Five priests suspended from same monastery href="/2/hi/europe/8577252.stm">Abuse claims in Pope's ex-diocese class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8576268.stm">Catholic Church sex abuse scandals Vatican defends Pope Benedict What next for scandal-hit Church? Reaction from around the web | |
| The Pope has said he hopes it will "help in the process of repentance, healing and renewal". | 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. | The message is expected to express contrition for what he himself has already described as shameful and hateful behaviour by some priests. |
| Last year a damning report into child abuse in the Dublin archdiocese criticised the Catholic Church hierarchy for covering up hundreds of cases going back to the early 1970s. | Last year a damning report into child abuse in the Dublin archdiocese criticised the Catholic Church hierarchy for covering up hundreds of cases going back to the early 1970s. |
| But 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. | But 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. |
| I have never seen a graver crisis affecting the very credibility of the leadership of the world's longest surviving international organisation, the Roman Catholic Church Willey: Vatican ends 'wall of silence' | I have never seen a graver crisis affecting the very credibility of the leadership of the world's longest surviving international organisation, the Roman Catholic Church Willey: Vatican ends 'wall of silence' |
| The implications for the Vatican are serious, our correspondent says. | The implications for the Vatican are serious, our correspondent says. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Are you in a country where the Church has been implicated in paedophile scandals? Do you think the Church has dealt with the matter effectively? Send us your views using the form below. | Are you in a country where the Church has been implicated in paedophile scandals? Do you think the Church has dealt with the matter effectively? Send us your views using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |