Below are some quotes:
The exchanges were frank and unscripted, according to some of the
victims.
"I told him that he has a cancer growing in his ministry and needs to do
something about it," Bernie McDaid said in an exclusive interview with
CNN.
But McDaid said he came away from the meeting feeling that there was real hope that this time the problem would be addressed, with action to follow.
"I don't go to Mass, but today I went with my mother, and his sermon there and his apology about the sexual abuse blew me away, and I had tears in my eyes that I wasn't ready to have. It was an incredible moment for me." Another victim said his hope was also restored after meeting Benedict.
"He first apologized," Olan Horne said. "He seemed to intrinsically understand what we were talking about."
Horne says that apology seemed more meaningful than any others he'd heard, calling it a "moment of hope."
Horne said the victims were allowed the time necessary to say what needed to be said, which impressed him.
"I'm from Missouri, 'show me,' and today I saw," Horne said.
Faith Johnston said she was praying for the strength to say the right thing
to the pope, but when the time came, emotions took over."I didn't end up saying
anything. I got up to him, and I burst into tears. But I don't think any words I
could have said; I think my tears alone spoke so much."
A great article on the subject from CNS. Some snips.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican press spokesman, told journalists the meeting involved five or six victims, men and women from the Archdiocese of Boston, and lasted about 25 minutes. During the encounter, each of the victims had a chance to speak personally to the pope, who spoke some "very affectionate words," he said.
Father Lombardi said it was a very emotional meeting; some were in tears.
At the end of the meeting, Cardinal O'Malley gave the pope a book listing the first names of the approximately 1,000 victims of sexual abuse in the archdiocese within the last several decades, Father Lombardi said, so the pope could remember them in his prayers.
The pope has spoken three times about clerical sexual abuse since he left Rome April 15 for his six-day visit to the United States, expressing the sense of shame he and other church leaders feel about what he called a "tragic situation."
On each occasion, he made a point to encourage church leaders and all Catholics to help those harmed by the abuse.
Some groups criticized the pope for not visiting Boston on this trip and for not scheduling an encounter with victims. Vatican officials had not ruled out such a meeting, but indicated that if it occurred it would be very private.
Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors' Network of those Abused by priests, praised the victims for having "the courage to come forward and speak up" but said she did not think the meeting "will change anything.""Kids need actions," such as punishment for those "supervisors and bishops who have enabled and covered up for predators," she told Catholic News Service.
Below is the statement from the Holy See:
Today at 4:15 p.m. the Holy Father met in the chapel at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington D.C. with a small group of persons who were sexually abused by members of the clergy.
The Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, accompanied the group. They prayed with the Holy Father, who afterwards listened to their personal accounts and offered them words of encouragement and hope.His Holiness assured them of his prayers for their intentions, for their families and for all victims of sexual abuse.
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