For the very first time in history, the Holy Father has written a letter (to the Catholics of Ireland) about the aleged cases of sexual abuse of minors by priests in that country.
Ever since the letter was published just a few days ago, there has been a flurry of activity, including calls for His Holiness to accept blame for wrongdoings, however to do so would be to open the legal doors to the possibility that the Vatican could be sued for wrongdoing in Ireland, in Canada and in other countries where similar alegations have been leveled.
The letter is a pastoral response to the suffering of those who have been harmed, and a call for steps to be taken to put things right. This is only one part of the work that must be done in order for the process of healing to be successful. What's clear though is that those whose acusations are found to be truthful must be cared for, while those who see this as an opportunity for financial (or other) gain at the expense of the Church should think twice before advancing their cause.
Wrongful acusations have never gotten anyone anywhere, but this could very well be the time (in fact it appears to be so) for truth to come to light and for the light of truth to set free those who have been imprisoned with such ghastly secrets for so long.
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