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Pope sorry for child sex abuse
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ASIANAGE on 19 July, 2008 02:11:36
 
Sydney, July 19: Pope Benedict XVI apologised on Saturday to victims of child
sex abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, describing their acts as "evil" and a grave
betrayal of trust.
"I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a
result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this
country," Pope Benedict said during an address in Australia.
"I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured," the
Pope said. "I assure them as their pastor that I too share in their suffering."
He said those responsible for these "evils must be brought to justice."
Support groups for victims of church abuse in Australia, whose numbers are not
known but who activists say are in the thousands, had demanded the Pope make a
full and open apology for clergy abuse and do more to prevent future abuse.The
pontiff is in Australia to lead hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in the
church’s World Youth Day. There was no immediate word whether Pope Benedict
would meet with victims of clergy abuse, as he did during his US trip. —AP
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Anti-Pope activists toss condoms at pilgrims
Sydney, July 19: More than 500 anti-Pope activists faced off against happy
pilgrims on Saturday, shouting their distaste at papal policies as thousands of
Catholic youth streamed past on their way to an evening address by Pope Benedict
XVI.
The "NoToPope coalition", some costumed as nuns, devils and priests, lined the
edge of a park on the route of the pilgrims’ march, tightly ringed by the
police. "The Pope is wrong, put a condom on!" they shouted through megaphones.
Some threw condoms at the passing pilgrims. But the young Catholics were at
first curious, then smiled and waved and began their own singsong chants. —AP