Pope acknowledges ‘shadow’ of U.S. clergy sex abuse scandal

VATICAN CITY – Pope John Paul II assured American bishops from New England on Thursday that he supports their efforts to address the damage wrought by clerical sex abuse, acknowledging the scandal “cast a shadow” on the Church.

The pope urged them to encourage their flock to persevere in their faith and asked the bishops to be “strongly supportive” of those priests suffering from “the much-publicized failings” of some of their fellow clergymen.

“Our recent history is one of great pain because of the tragedy of clerical sexual abuse with all its devastating consequences,” Boston Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley told John Paul in remarks released by the Vatican. “As a Church we are striving to bring healing to all those affected by this crisis.”

O’Malley succeeded Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned amid accusations he protected priests implicated in sexual abuse.

The pope said the U.S. Church “has been chastened by the events of the past two years, and much effort has rightly been expended on understanding and addressing the issues of sexual abuse which have cast a shadow on her life and ministry.”

He noted the “the significant spiritual and material challenges” the scandal has caused and urged the bishops to encourage all faithful to persevere “in the public witness of faith and hope.”

The pope’s speech did not go into details on the challenges, but O’Malley said before leaving Boston that he would talk to the Vatican about the plan to close 82 of the 357 parishes in the archdiocese in a consolidation caused in part by the scandal. Last fall, the archdiocese agreed to pay $85 million to settle lawsuits filed by more than 500 victims of clergy sex abuse.

John Paul asked the bishops to convey “my personal gratitude for the generous and selfless service which marks the lives of so many American priests.”