Bishops Condemn Child Sex Abuse

After a decade in which the sins of pedophile priests placed their church on the defensive, U.S. Roman Catholic bishops are issuing a forceful pastoral message that condemns the sexual abuse of children.

The bishops, whose church lauds the sanctity of family, declare it is better for families to break up than to leave their young ones at risk.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the document Tuesday; it is to be formally released Thursday.

In the statement, the bishops acknowledge their own vulnerability and damaged credibility concerning pedophilia. For years, abusive priests traditionally received counseling but then were sent on to new parishes, where more abuse sometimes occurred.

While forgiveness is often seen as charitable and Christlike, all acts of child sex abuse are morally evil and only God can absolve abusers, the bishops say in “Walk in the Light: A Pastoral Response to Child Sexual Abuse.”