Pope Francis put blame on members of the Catholic hierarchy for their response to sex abuse cases, saying it helped drive the faithful away.
Pope Francis met with survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Portugal on Wednesday and blasted members of the country’s Catholic hierarchy for their response to the long-ignored scandal, which he said had marred the Catholic Church and helped drive the faithful away.
The meeting with victims took place after Francis presided over a vigil service for Portuguese clergy and nuns at the capital’s iconic Jeronimos Monastery, where in February hundreds of people gathered to brave for victims of sex abuse after the experts' report was released. Although critics have chided church officials for their sluggish response, the bishops' conference later said the pope's meeting with abuse survivors was evidence of"the path of reconciliation that the Portuguese church has been following in this area."
Reaction to Francis' comments on abuse were mixed: some pilgrims outside the Jeronimos Monastery said the World Youth Day gathering wasn't the time or place to raise the issue.
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