“He’s bringing a sense of unity that I’ve not seen here”, said Rodney Barnes, a social work student and non-Catholic attending the papal Mass in Philadelphia.
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The question of finding a few sort of process or “penitential path” to readmit to the sacraments Catholics who have remarried without an annulment is something still on the synod’s agenda, he said. The victims need to see a true move towards accountability, so that the message of acceptance that this Pope is preaching is not undermined by instances of sexual assault within the church he is preaching to.
Speaking aboard the papal plane from Philadelphia to Rome, where the pontiff arrived on Monday (Sept. 28) morning, Francis said clerical abuse is “nearly a sacrilege” and the Catholic Church must take a tough line.
“It’s just an incredible environment to be in”, she said, “and you don’t get that at home from TV”.
Pope Francis entered the room and set aside his prepared remarks, the bishop said.
“I forgive him, but he does not receive that forgiveness”.
“It’s harder for my family than me”.
“Our common house can no longer tolerate sterile divisions”, he continued. While there, the Pope met with five survivors who had been molested as children, either by clergy, family members or educators.
“You are not alone”, Rozzi said.
Mayor Michael Nutter told reporters: “You all scared the s– out of people”. “What happened was a great tribulation”.
The entire encounter was caught on video, which showed that Pope Francis did spot the tyke from afar, thanks to the baby’s striking white outfit and his guardian’s repeated efforts to raise the child up for better visibility.
It was heartening to hear him talk, in a way Americans haven’t heard from a visiting pope, about the values that should be important to a compassionate, world-leading society.
“It was a lovely thing and also different”, the Pope said through a translator of Italian.
The abuse of minors is “nearly a sacrilege”, he said, and by committing these acts the priest has “betrayed his vocation, the calling of the Lord”.
At the start of an otherwise joyous and well-received trip to the United States, Pope Francis hit one seriously sour note: He praised USA bishops for their handling of the sexual abuse scandal and told priests he felt their pain – leaving abuse victims stunned and infuriated, asking why he neglected to even acknowledge their anguish.
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During the sex abuse crisis in the USA, it came to light that a number of United States bishops sought to prevent these criminal acts by priests from being exposed. They would rather take the nuclear option than approve a federal budget that includes funding for Planned Parenthood, which performs abortions – though none with taxpayer money – and provides vital health services for millions of women who might otherwise not have access to care.
