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Pope: Ignore petty gossip
Monday, 29 March 2010
enlargePope Benedict XVI made it clear yesterday that he would not be intimidated by his critics over the ongoing sexual abuse scandal enveloping his Church.
Officiating at Mass in Rome for Palm Sunday, which marks the start of the holiest week in the Catholic Church's calendar, the 82-year-old pontiff's characteristically cryptic sermon made no explicit mention of the global clerical sex abuse scandals that have thrown the Church into its worst crisis in decades.
But he nevertheless fired a broadside against those who have called on him to do more to explain his previous role as the Vatican's head investigator of child abuse claims.
The Pontiff reminded worshippers that belief in Jesus Christ helped lead Christians “towards the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion”.
He also spoke of how man can sometimes “fall to the lowest, vulgar levels” and “sink into the swamp of sin and dishonesty”.
The remarks are widely regarded as a reference to the growing furore over his leadership of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office he headed for more than 20 years before becoming Pope in 2005.
One of the Congregation's primary remits is to investigate any clerical abuse allegations put before it.
But the crisis over sex abuse allegations across Europe and in North America have put the Vatican and the Pope himself firmly on the back foot.
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First of all, Catholics such as myself are absolutely horrified and disgusted at the abuse that took place. I believe in the Catholic faith, not the clergy. However I think I need to clarify a couple of points.
The Pope never said these words. It was Cardinal Angelo Sodano who used the term "petty gossip". By this he meant not the abuse which the Pope has apologized for over and over again, but the media speculation trying to link the Pope to the scandal and calling for his resignation.
The Catholic Church needs to change and expel anyone involved in this disgusting outrage and make sure children are protected in future.
Posted by Steve | 17.04.10, 01:41 GMT
Investigators should start looking into the seminaries who taught these perverts in the first place! After all the years it takes to become a priest, no one in these seminaries every witnessed "odd" behavior on the part of some of their students who turned out to be sexual abusers! Hard to believe unless some of those that ran them had the same sexual tendencies and overlooked perverted behavior. As a former Catholic, this church with all of its pomp, ritual and sleaze sickens me!
Posted by Pat | 30.03.10, 00:18 GMT
petty gossip, yes mr ratzinger i have heard the one about the paedophile priests the cardinals and bishops keeping the atrocities hidden, the deaf children take a beating or give sexual favours, you know what its not petty and you and the vatican from top to bottom are a disgrace,my advice to other catholics leave this church of sinners. and fast the ship is sinking.
Posted by joseph | 29.03.10, 17:44 GMT
WH | 29.03.10, 13:17
Absolutely correct comment WH.
-Ah but let's dismiss it sweep it under the carpet etc an amazing response from the Pope! Dreadful.
Posted by T J McClean | 29.03.10, 14:29 GMT
Petty gossip? Allegations surrounding the systematic rape and abuse of 1000s of children under the pastoral care of the Catholic church should not be regarded as "petty gossip".
This man is an absolute disgrace I'm reminded of the wonderful song by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli - 'Time to Say Goodbye'.
Posted by WH | 29.03.10, 13:17 GMT
"Ignore petty gossip?"
Exactly which planet does this man come from? This is one bit of "petty gossip" that wont go away, you know. I think the Pope should resign, and take our own Cardinal Brady with him. I think I smell a Ratzinger.
Posted by Neal | 29.03.10, 08:55 GMT
"Igonore petty gossip?"
Exactly which planet does this man come from? Sorry, but this is one bit of "petty gossip" that wont go away, you know.
I think the Pope should take full responsiblity and resign, together with our own Cardinal Brady.
Posted by Neal | 29.03.10, 08:53 GMT
how dare the pope call the accusations about paedophile priests petty gossip, there is nothing petty about a small child being molested, perhaps he thinks the whole thing is petty, and he calls himself religious.
Posted by opinion | 29.03.10, 07:38 GMT