Pope expresses 'pain and shame' over clergy abuse as Chileans protest papal visit
Pope Francis has expressed "pain and shame" over the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests in Chile, telling the country's political leaders Jan. 16 that it is right for the church to ask forgiveness.
Jan 18, 2018
By Joshua J. McElwee
Pope Francis has expressed "pain and shame" over the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests in Chile, telling the country's political leaders Jan. 16 that it is right for the church to ask forgiveness.
In his first speech during a three-day visit to this traditionally Catholic country, now reeling from recent revelations of abuse, the pontiff also said the church would commit itself "to ensuring that such things do not happen again."
"I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the church," Francis told Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in a speech outside the imposing facade of the country's La Moneda palace. "It is right to ask for forgiveness and to make every effort to support the victims."
Francis' expression of pain comes as the pontiff himself continues to face criticism in Chile over his 2015 appointment of Bishop Juan Barros Madrid of Osorno, Chile, who is accused of covering-up for notorious abuser Fr. Fernando Karadima in the 1980s and ‘90s.
Local Catholics have planned daily protests against the pontiff over the Barros appointment, and anger at the pope and the church has led to an atmosphere in Santiago not before experienced during one of Francis' other 21 visits abroad.
Several churches across the country have been firebombed in recent days, with one parish in Santiago targeted overnight Jan. 15, shortly after the pope’s arrival. Another parish in the city was painted that night with graffiti. Big black letters at its entry now declare: "Accomplice!" and "BurnPope!"
Those opposed to Francis' visit have also been very active on social media, using the Twitter hashtag #noalpapaenchile and sharing the slogan: "No more abuse, no more cover-up, no more hypocrisy."
One abuse survivor said Francis' words about clergy abuse Jan. 16 were not enough.
"The pope has all the necessary power and responsibility to end clerical abuse today, if he wanted," said José Andrés Murillo, who was abused by Karadima and is now the executive director of the Chilean foundation Para la Confianza, which helps survivors of sexual abuse.
"[The pope] is responsible for removing, if necessary, every bishop ... who has covered-up a case of abuse," said Murillo. "If he does not do that, his pain and shame is not credible."
Other Chileans said they hoped Francis' expression of pain was only the beginning of his efforts in dealing with clergy abuse in the country. One man at O'Higgins Park, where the pope celebrated an outdoor Mass later Jan. 16, called the pontiff's words a positive step forward but said it was only one step.
One woman at the park who traveled about 70 miles from the coast town of Valparaiso to see Francis said she hoped Chileans would understand that just because the pope has spoken about the issue that not everything is healed.
The pope did not mention Barros or Karadima by name in his speech at the presidential palace, which primarily focused on encouraging the political leaders to work for the common good instead of partisan or commercial interests.
Barros had been serving as the head of Chile's military diocese until Francis moved him to Osorno in 2015. The Vatican sentenced Karadima to a life of prayer and penance in 2011, although the priest has denied the numerous allegations against him.
Though Barros was not implicated in Karadima's canonical trial, victims say the prelate destroyed incriminating correspondence from the priest. Other victims claim the future bishop was even a witness to some of the sexual abuse.
New revelations about Francis' awareness of claims that Barros protected Karadima came Jan. 12, with leak of a previously unknown letter the pontiff had written to the Chilean bishops' conference in 2015, acknowledging that Barros was controversial before making the appointment to Osorno.
Francis has publicly defended his appointment of Barros in the past. Captured on video speaking to a Chilean in the crowd at a May 2015 general audience at the Vatican, the pope said people were judging Barros "without any evidence" and even said the allegations against the bishop were being orchestrated by "lefties."
Chile's 'great and exciting challenge'
Crowds along Francis' route through Santiago towards the presidential palace Jan. 16 were thin, with police lining streets that for long stretches were nearly empty. Unlike previous visits in other countries, the convoy surrounding the pope's car was heavy, with at least seven unmarked police vehicles traveling with the pontiff.
(This article first appeared on NCRonline.org, the Website of National Catholic Reporter, and is being used with permission)
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