- Title: French bishops pray for forgiveness, for child abuse sins committed by clergy
- Date: 7th November 2016
- Summary: LYON, FRANCE (FILE - NOVEMBER 23, 2015) (REUTERS) PHILIPPE BARBARIN, ARCHBISHOP OF LYON QUESTIONED OVER ACTIVITIES OF A PRIEST WHO WAS ACCUSED OF PAEDOPHILIA, AND OTHERS WAITING OUTSIDE CHURCH ROME, ITALY (FILE - MARCH 14, 2013) (REUTERS) FRENCH CARDINAL PHILIPPE BARBARIN WALKING DOWN STAIRS VATICAN CITY, VATICAN (FILE - MARCH 8, 2013) (REUTERS) CARDINAL PHILIPPE BARBARIN ON BICYCLE STATUES, CLOCK AND DOME OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2016 16:11
- Keywords: priests abuse paedophile Catholic church repent forgiveness
- Location: LOURDES AND LYON, FRANCE / ROME AND VATICAN CITY, ITALY
- City: LOURDES AND LYON, FRANCE / ROME AND VATICAN CITY, ITALY
- Country: France
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA00457G3R5Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French bishops held a day of prayers and fasting for victims of sex abuse within the Catholic church, as they gathered for a biannual plenary in the pilgrimage site of Lourdes in southern France.
The bishops prayed for "forgiveness for the sins committed by clergy members" in a mass at the Rosary basilica.
"Lord Jesus, you who revealed yourself to us as the liberating truth we ask you for forgiveness for our lack of courage to confront the plague of sexual abuse in the Church. We lacked the necessary courage and discernment to take the measures of protection which were needed and to put into place the support and monitoring of the culprits. For these sins, Lord Jesus, we beg you and implore your forgiveness," France Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois said in an opening prayer.
Bishop Luc Crepy, who was appointed this year to head a clergy panel investigating paedophilia acts, urged his fellow priests in his homily to do their part in fighting against "scandalous and criminal actions" affecting children.
"Yes, we have to dare look straight at the scandal of the sin which has affected the entire Church, we need to come out of the lengthy and guilty silence of the Church and society and listen to the sufferings of the victims. Acts of paedophilia, such serious crimes, shatter the innocence and the integrity of children and the young. Yes, we need to dare to take all the measures so that the house of the Church becomes a safe place. Yes we need to - as Pope Francis asked - to 'ask for forgiveness for the sins commited by the authorities of the Church who covered up the perpatrator of the abuses and ignored the sufferings of the victims," Crepy said.
In June, French police questioned the archbishop of Lyon, Philippe Barbarin, in an inquiry into the activities of a pedophile priest in the early 1990s and why they were not reported to the civil authorities.
Several victims of alleged pedophile abuse have filed complaints against Barbarin for failing to report the incidents to the justice authorities and leaving the accused priest in place.
Prosecutors confirmed they dropped the investigation on Barbarin in August, with no charges being brought.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis had said he would modify existing laws, and Catholic bishops who have played a role in covering up sexual abuse can be removed from office. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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