- Title: ITALY: U.S. Abuse victims group names 'least worst' papal candidates
- Date: 7th March 2013
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (MARCH 7, 2013) (REUTERS) DIRECTOR OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS (SNAP) DAVID CLOHESSY AND BARBARA DORRIS HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOS OF CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS (SNAP), BARBARA DORRIS, SAYING: "The common link among these three men is their courage. They have done things that few if any other bishops or cardinals have tried. They have tried to 'think outside the box' and at times they have been bluntly honest about the failings of other church members, about the failings of their own protocols." PHOTO OF SNAP DIRECTOR DAVID CLOHESSY AND DORRIS AS CHILDREN DAVID CLOHESSY HOLDING UP CARD READING "TAGLE, MARTIN, SCHONBORN" CLOSE UP ON CARD READING "TAGLE, MARTIN, SCHONBORN" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS (SNAP), DAVID CLOHESSY, SAYING: "To have supportive spouses and families is something that a great many survivors tragically do not have so please join us in one minute's silence in honour and appreciation of friends and relatives of abuse victims who suffer along with us." DAVID CLOHESSY WITH EYES SHUT AND CRYING ROME, ITALY (RECENT) (REUTERS) SAN BARTOLOMEO CHURCH (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) AUSTRIAN CARDINAL CHRISTOPH SCHONBORN EXITS CAR SAYING: (ITALIAN JOURNALIST ASKS "How did the first day of work go today?") "It went well, yes, yes, it went very well." AUSTRIAN CARDINAL SCHONBORN GIVES BLESSING IN SAN BARTOLOMEO CHURCH VATICAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) FILIPINO CARDINAL LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE EXITING CAR AND ENTERING VATICAN VARIOUS FILIPINO CARDINAL LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE AT PRAYER SERVICE IN ST. PETER'S BASILICA CARDINAL HAT ON PEW IN ST. PETER'S BASILICA CARDINALS PRAYING IN ST. PETER'S BASILICA
- Embargoed: 22nd March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Crime,Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA9Y4KFEV7NEIR3K35VSWICMAX4
- Story Text: A U.S.-based organisation representing victims of child abuse named two cardinals and an archbishop on Thursday (March 7) who they say are the best candidates to become the new Pope.
At a news conference in Rome, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said that Cardinals Christoph Schonborn and Luis Antonio Tagle and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin were the "least worst" papal candidates on the basis of their words and actions in regards to the clergy sex abuse crisis.
The Roman Catholic Church has been rocked in recent decades by repeated sex scandals, primarily in wealthy Western nations such as the United States, Ireland and Germany. Many of the cases dated back decades and became known only later.
SNAP member Barbara Doris explained why the organisation favours Schonborn, Tagle and Martin before SNAP Director David Clohessy held up a card listing their names.
"The common link among these three men is their courage. They have done things that few if any other bishops or cardinals have tried. They have tried to 'think outside the box' and at times they have been bluntly honest about the failings of other church members, about the failings of their own protocols," said Doris.
No front-runner for the new Pope stands out but leading candidates do include both Cardinal Schonborn and Cardinal Tagle in Vatican watcher lists.
Clohessy led a minute's silence at the news conference for the victims of child abuse.
"To have supportive spouses and families is something that a great many survivors tragically do not have so please join us in one minute's silence in honour and appreciation of friends and relatives of abuse victims who suffer along with us," said a visibly emotional Clohessy.
SNAP has filed a report with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which criticises the Vatican in its handling of clergy sex crimes. It is the first time the organisation has made a formal appeal to the UN for help with the crisis.
Clohessy, who says he intends to stay in Rome until a new pope is chosen, said that the successor to Benedict XVI should not be afraid to punish those in the church who cover up abuse scandals.
While many observers had expected the conclave to begin as early as this Sunday (March 10), there have been increasing indications that the cardinals may need more time to ponder who among them might be best to lead a church beset by crises. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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