Pope Francis

Clerical sex abuse

Seeking forgiveness and promising accountability

'I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of Church leaders who did not respond adequately to reports of abuse made by family members, as well as by abuse victims themselves.' (7/7/2014) [1]

Francis feels personally responsible for evil priests

'I feel compelled to take personal responsibility for all the evil that some priests, many - many in number, (although) not in comparison with the totality - to assume personal responsibility and to ask forgiveness for the damage caused by the sexual abuse of the children.' (4/11/2014) [2]