Pope Francis has for the first time, acknowledged sexual abuse of nuns in the Catholic Church. He knew that the clergy have done this. “And I think it is still done,” said the Pontiff.
On the return flight from Abu Dhabi to Rome, Pope Francis has a question station a fellow passenger commented to journalists for the first time, to the controversial topic. “There were priests and bishops who have done that,” said the head of the Catholic Church. “And I think it is still done.” The Church should not deny such incidents, said the Pope. “We need to do more? Yes! We have the will? Yes!” so the clear message.
Such incidents could happen anywhere, but are especially common in “some of the new congregations and, in some regions,” said the Pope. The Church lace work already “long” in the topic. Some of the nuns ‘ communities had been resolved, some of the clergy had been suspended “” and “sent away”.
On the plane: Pope Francis on the way from the United Arab Emirates in the direction of Rome
The Pope spoke specifically of the case of a community, and in the case of the nuns “like slaves” treated. It had gone up to the “sexual slavery” by the cleric and the founder of the order, Francis. The former Pope Benedict XVI had been “very brave” and I have this community to a lot of powerful opposition immediately resolved after he took office. To which community he was referring to, said Pope Francis during the press conference on the plane.
The mistreatment of women, the Pope called a General social and cultural Problem. There are countries where the mistreatment of women, go up to the woman’s murder.
The Catholic Church is being shaken over the world for years of abuse scandals and plunged into a deep crisis. Priests, bishops and laity stand in the pillory. So far, especially Attacks on children and young people had become known.
qu/uh (afp, dpa)