Breaking News - Pope 'slander' comment riles abuse victims. Breakingnewstoday Pope shocks Chile by accusing sex abuse victims of slander on Jan 19, 2018. Pope Francis 'slander' comment angers Chile …More
Breaking News - Pope 'slander' comment riles abuse victims.
Breakingnewstoday Pope shocks Chile by accusing sex abuse victims of slander on Jan 19, 2018. Pope Francis 'slander' comment angers Chile abuse victimsPope Francis has triggered anger in Chile after accusing victims of a paedophile priest of slander.Francis said there was "no proof" for their claims that Bishop Juan Barros had covered up abuse by Father Fernando Karadima."There is not one single piece of proof against him (Bishop Barros). It is all slander. Is that clear?" the Pope said.One Karadima victim said the Pope's earlier plea for forgiveness over clerical sex abuse was "empty".The Pope made his comments on Thursday before celebrating Mass outside the city of Iquique in northern Chile."The day someone brings me proof against Bishop Barros, then I will talk," the Pope told journalists. Lifetime of penanceJuan Carlos Cruz was one of the bishop's accusers who was quick to condemn the Pope's stance."As if I could have taken a selfie or photo while Karadima abused me and others with Juan Barros standing next to him watching everything," he tweeted."These people are absolutely crazy, and @Pontifex (the Pope's Twitter handle) is talking about reparation to the victims. Nothing has changed, and his plea for forgiveness is empty."Earlier in his Chile trip, Francis had met victims of sexual abuse by priests in the country. He cried with them and said he felt "pain and shame" over the scandal.The US-based NGO Bishop Accountability says almost 80 members of Catholic clergy have been accused of child sex abuse in Chile since 2000.
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The Church suffered a body blow in Chile in 2010 when Father Karadima was publicly accused of molesting several teenaged boys in the capital, Santiago, starting in the 1980s.Mr Cruz claims Bishop Barros was present when Father Karadima - then the bishop's mentor - kissed and groped him and another boy.While Bishop Barros has not been accused of abuse, the Pope has been criticised for appointing him bishop of Osorno in 2015. Barros's ordination ceremony had to be cut short over protests in the cathedral.Father Karadima was found guilty by the Vatican of abusing teenage boys in 2011 and sentenced to a lifetime of "penance and prayer".He never faced criminal prosecution in Chile as too much time had passed, but the judge who heard victims' testimony in a year-long investigation described them as "truthful and reliable".Pope Francis arrived in Peru late on Thursday for a three-day visit which will conclude his two-nation South America trip.
Francis said there was no evidence a Chilean bishop had covered up another priest's actions.
Breakingnewstoday Pope shocks Chile by accusing sex abuse victims of slander on Jan 19, 2018. Pope Francis 'slander' comment angers Chile abuse victimsPope Francis has triggered anger in Chile after accusing victims of a paedophile priest of slander.Francis said there was "no proof" for their claims that Bishop Juan Barros had covered up abuse by Father Fernando Karadima."There is not one single piece of proof against him (Bishop Barros). It is all slander. Is that clear?" the Pope said.One Karadima victim said the Pope's earlier plea for forgiveness over clerical sex abuse was "empty".The Pope made his comments on Thursday before celebrating Mass outside the city of Iquique in northern Chile."The day someone brings me proof against Bishop Barros, then I will talk," the Pope told journalists. Lifetime of penanceJuan Carlos Cruz was one of the bishop's accusers who was quick to condemn the Pope's stance."As if I could have taken a selfie or photo while Karadima abused me and others with Juan Barros standing next to him watching everything," he tweeted."These people are absolutely crazy, and @Pontifex (the Pope's Twitter handle) is talking about reparation to the victims. Nothing has changed, and his plea for forgiveness is empty."Earlier in his Chile trip, Francis had met victims of sexual abuse by priests in the country. He cried with them and said he felt "pain and shame" over the scandal.The US-based NGO Bishop Accountability says almost 80 members of Catholic clergy have been accused of child sex abuse in Chile since 2000.
Why Pope's trip to Chile is a challenge
Protesters challenge Pope on Church sex abuse
Chile churches attacked before Pope visit
The Church suffered a body blow in Chile in 2010 when Father Karadima was publicly accused of molesting several teenaged boys in the capital, Santiago, starting in the 1980s.Mr Cruz claims Bishop Barros was present when Father Karadima - then the bishop's mentor - kissed and groped him and another boy.While Bishop Barros has not been accused of abuse, the Pope has been criticised for appointing him bishop of Osorno in 2015. Barros's ordination ceremony had to be cut short over protests in the cathedral.Father Karadima was found guilty by the Vatican of abusing teenage boys in 2011 and sentenced to a lifetime of "penance and prayer".He never faced criminal prosecution in Chile as too much time had passed, but the judge who heard victims' testimony in a year-long investigation described them as "truthful and reliable".Pope Francis arrived in Peru late on Thursday for a three-day visit which will conclude his two-nation South America trip.
Francis said there was no evidence a Chilean bishop had covered up another priest's actions.