Action, not Vatican talk will end abuse
2010-11-08 22:25
Washington - A network of sex abuse victims on Monday dismissed as "mere talk" the pope's upcoming Vatican meeting with his cardinals on clergy abuse.
"It's easy and tempting to assume this is a positive sign, but that's irresponsible," said Barbara Blaine, president of the US-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (Snap), referring to Pope Benedict XVI's summon of cardinals for talks on November 19 to discuss the Catholic Church's response to the cases.
"We'll only know if this is a good development when we see action resulting from this meeting. To be swayed by mere talk is to betray vulnerable children and wounded adults," Blaine said in a statement following the Vatican announcement of the meeting.
"It takes decisive action to oust predator priests and complicit bishops. And when it comes to abuse, this Pope, like his predecessors, has shown little commitment to real action."
The Vatican meeting, known as a consistory, will be led by William Joseph Levada, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the body in charge of Church dogma that was headed for more than 20 years by the current pope.
The consistory is set to bring together the Church's 203 cardinals, including newly-appointed ones. The college of cardinals holds key power in the Catholic Church.
Blaine took a hard line against the cardinals and any prospects that the gathering would lead to progress on the abuse issue.
"Before any hopes get raised, let's remember that it's likely that every man in that room next week has ignored and concealed clergy sex crimes or is doing so right now.
"The prospects of substantial reform happening next week are therefore pretty slim."
Far more productive, she argued, would be meetings that "involve police, prosecutors and other secular officials who use the open, time-tested justice system to uncover long-concealed clergy sex crimes."
