Sanning eller "skvaller"?

Kardinalens ord var inte så väl valda om avsikten inte var att såra dem som utsatts för prästers övergrepp. Inte heller tillfället då han uttalade dem. (Jfr. Cantalamessa, som nu har bett om ursäkt för sitt uttalande under långfredagens predikan.)

Det skulle inte skada om påven talade klarspråk i ämnet snart. Tog på sig sitt fulla ansvar som kyrkans ledare. I vått och torrt. I lust och nöd.

***

"A leading cardinal, making an unusual address in defense of Pope Benedict at the pontiff's Easter Sunday Mass, said the Church would not be intimidated by "petty gossip" about sexual abuse of children by priests.

But in his own Easter address hours later, the pope, looking at times weary, did not mention the scandal that has engulfed the Church and posed a crisis in his five-year-old pontificate.

The surprise speech by Cardinal Angelo Sodano was the first time in recent memory that the ritual of a papal Easter Sunday Mass was changed so someone could address the pope at the start.

"Holy Father, the people of God are with you and will not let themselves be influenced by the petty gossip of the moment, by the trials that sometimes assail the community of believers," Sodano said.

The change of protocol underscored just how much the Vatican is feeling the pressure from a growing scandal concerning sexual abuse of children by priests and reports of a possible cover-up that have inched closer to the pope himself.

"Victims are seeking consolation and healing and should not be insulted and told that our speaking out is petty gossip," said Barbara Blaine, a leader of the U.S.-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

"The pope has said the truth should be exposed. They can't have it both ways," she told Reuters.""

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Och denna artikel, om två ärkebiskopar som inte tiger.

Samtidigt uppdagas övergrepp i Danmark.

Här ges en bakgrund till det hela.