SQLFusion - Pope protects bishops who abuse children

Victims: Pope Benedict Protects Accused Pedophile Bishops

Victims Say Pontiff Has Protected Bishop O'Connell, Cardinal Mahoney and
17 Others

ABC News By BRIAN ROSS, RHONDA SCHWARTZ and ANNA SCHECTER

April 15, 2008—

Even as he told reporters on his flight to America that he was "deeply
ashamed" over the church sex abuse scandal, Pope Benedict was accused by
victims of protecting some 19 bishops accused of sexually abusing children.

"As a Catholic, I have to sadly conclude that he is not serious about
ridding the church of corrupt bishops," said Anne Doyle, co-director of
BishopAccountability.org, a group tracking public records involving the
bishops.

According to the group, of the 19 bishops "credibly accused of abusing
children," none has lost his title, been publicly censured by the
Vatican or referred for criminal prosecutions.

"The sexual corruption in the Catholic church starts at the very top,"
said Doyle.

Pope Benedict told reporters on his flight this morning from Rome to
Washington, D.C., he would do everything possible to avoid a repeat of
the scandal. "We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred
ministry," he said, according to Reuters.

While the church has moved to expel accused priests, critics say the
higher-ranking bishops have been given favored treatment. "The attitude
of the bishops towards the victims and the families of sexual abuse and
predatory clergy is drop dead," said Michael Wegs, of Marion, Iowa, one
of nine former high schools students who said they were abused at a
seminary in Missouri by former Palm Beach, Fla. Bishop Anthony J.
O'Connell.

When the allegations were made public, Bishop O'Connell admitted at
least two cases of abuse and was allowed to resign. He now lives on the
beautiful, sprawling grounds of the Trappists Mepkin Abbey in South
Carolina.

"He deserves to be in jail," said Wegs, his accuser. "I don't think
there is any justice because he is allowed to travel, go where he
please. He's still a bishop, and he's living among priests in the
hierarchical structure; he is a top dog despite the fact that he's a
sexual predator." Wegs says O'Connell has failed to even apologize to
his victims.

Bishop O'Connell did not return phone calls from ABCNews.com seeking
comment, but church officials say he and other bishops have been
punished appropriately. "You cannot put on clerical attire, and you
cannot service in a public way in ministry," said Austin, Texas Bishop
Gregory Aymond, chair of the U.S. Bishop's Committee on Protection of
Children and Young People.

"That is a very, very significant consequence, and I would say a
significant penalty," said Bishop Aymond, who conceded the accused
bishops maintain their title. "Priests and bishops remain priests and
bishops forever, regardless of what happens to them or what they do,"
said Bishop Aymond.

But victims groups and church critics say the pope can and should do
much more to punish the bishops and finally resolve the scandal.

Before he became pope, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he was in charge of
monitoring cases of pedophile priests and was directly involved in
deciding what punishment, if any, would be administered to priests and
bishops.

"Priests who abuse children can be removed from the priesthood, but they
do not remove bishops, they do not remove cardinals," said author Jason
Berry who has been tracking the sex abuse scandal and produced a
documentary film on the subject, "Vows of Silence," which premiered in
New Orleans last night. "The problem is the power structure. There is no
accountability," said Berry.

Berry says the pope's decision to have the Los Angeles archbishop,
Cardinal Roger Mahoney, accompany him on his trip proves the point. "Why
would you want someone in your entourage" like Roger Mahoney, asked Berry.

"This man has overseen a great many cases in which priests were moved
from parish to parish. His diocese has paid over $660 million in
settlements. And yet this cardinal has refused to release the files on
these priests who have abused children," Berry said.

Cardinal Mahoney did not return calls from ABC News seeking comment.

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