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Church sex abuse victims hold conference ahead of Pope trip | Church sex abuse victims hold conference ahead of Pope trip |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Men and women who say they were sexually abused by Catholic priests as children have begun a conference in London, ahead of the Pope's visit to Scotland and England. | |
They plan to offer messages to the Pope and compile them in a book for him. | They plan to offer messages to the Pope and compile them in a book for him. |
Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive on 16 September for a four-day visit. | Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive on 16 September for a four-day visit. |
Meanwhile, in a BBC poll of 500 Catholics, 52% said the scale of abuse, and the way it was handled, had "shaken their faith" in the Church leadership. | Meanwhile, in a BBC poll of 500 Catholics, 52% said the scale of abuse, and the way it was handled, had "shaken their faith" in the Church leadership. |
The poll conducted by ComRes - a member of the British Polling Council - surveyed the random sample of Roman Catholics across the UK between 6 and 9 September 2010. | The poll conducted by ComRes - a member of the British Polling Council - surveyed the random sample of Roman Catholics across the UK between 6 and 9 September 2010. |
On this first visit by a pope to the UK since John Paul II in 1982, the pontiff will go to Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Birmingham. | On this first visit by a pope to the UK since John Paul II in 1982, the pontiff will go to Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Birmingham. |
Saturday's London conference is being hosted by support group Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS). | |
The group was set up to support survivors of sexual abuse by clergy from all Christian denominations, whether abused as children or as adults. | The group was set up to support survivors of sexual abuse by clergy from all Christian denominations, whether abused as children or as adults. |
This year's conference - called We Speak, You Listen - will focus on Catholic survivors, offering the chance for them to relay messages about their "stories, hopes and dreams" to Pope Benedict. | This year's conference - called We Speak, You Listen - will focus on Catholic survivors, offering the chance for them to relay messages about their "stories, hopes and dreams" to Pope Benedict. |
Their testimonies will be compiled into a book, with the title 'The testament we give you, hear us', which they hope to present to him. | Their testimonies will be compiled into a book, with the title 'The testament we give you, hear us', which they hope to present to him. |
Catholic survivors of clergy abuse who could not attend were asked to send their stories and comments ahead of the conference. | Catholic survivors of clergy abuse who could not attend were asked to send their stories and comments ahead of the conference. |
Celibacy 'safe haven' | Celibacy 'safe haven' |
Peter Saunders was abused by two priests when he was a child and now runs a charity for child abuse survivors, the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. | Peter Saunders was abused by two priests when he was a child and now runs a charity for child abuse survivors, the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. |
He told the BBC's Allan Little: "Because abusers pass some of the responsibility to their victims, you're left thinking, 'I can't really say anything because maybe I did something, maybe in some way it was my fault, I deserved it'. | He told the BBC's Allan Little: "Because abusers pass some of the responsibility to their victims, you're left thinking, 'I can't really say anything because maybe I did something, maybe in some way it was my fault, I deserved it'. |
He added that the Catholic Church seemed to have done "a phenomenal job of covering up, moving on abusing priests and denigrating their victims". | He added that the Catholic Church seemed to have done "a phenomenal job of covering up, moving on abusing priests and denigrating their victims". |
The Church has said child abuse is no more prevalent among its clergy than in society in general, but some argue that the celibacy required of the priesthood has played a role. | The Church has said child abuse is no more prevalent among its clergy than in society in general, but some argue that the celibacy required of the priesthood has played a role. |
Psychologist and Jesuit priest Brendan Callaghan told the BBC the commitment to celibacy appeared to "offer a safe haven for people". | Psychologist and Jesuit priest Brendan Callaghan told the BBC the commitment to celibacy appeared to "offer a safe haven for people". |
But he added: "Eventually those currents in a person's personality are going to surface. And when they do emerge, it's problematic." | But he added: "Eventually those currents in a person's personality are going to surface. And when they do emerge, it's problematic." |
A series of sex abuse scandals have rocked the Catholic Church around the world in recent years, with the Church further accused of maintaining a culture of secrecy. | A series of sex abuse scandals have rocked the Catholic Church around the world in recent years, with the Church further accused of maintaining a culture of secrecy. |
Pope Benedict's supporters say he has been the most proactive pope yet in confronting abuse. | Pope Benedict's supporters say he has been the most proactive pope yet in confronting abuse. |
Earlier this year he apologised to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland, and later went on to promise "action" over child abuse by priests. | Earlier this year he apologised to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland, and later went on to promise "action" over child abuse by priests. |
Many campaigners accept that the Catholic Church in England and Wales and in Scotland has done much to acknowledge the problem and to try to eradicate it, said our correspondent. | Many campaigners accept that the Catholic Church in England and Wales and in Scotland has done much to acknowledge the problem and to try to eradicate it, said our correspondent. |
But some survivors say they still carry the psychological scars and that the Church should do more to fulfil their duty to them. | But some survivors say they still carry the psychological scars and that the Church should do more to fulfil their duty to them. |
MACSAS campaigner, Dr Margaret Kennedy, said: "They have abandoned the victims. They talk about this historical abuse quite extensively. Well it's not historic to the victims. It's now." | |
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