Friday, October 1, 2010

Chairman Probing Abuse: Pope Should Resign; Doing So Would Set an Example of Accountability

The Catholic Culture website reports today (October 1, 2010) that the psychologist who headed an independent commission investigating sex-abuse charges for the Belgian bishops has said that Pope Benedict XVI should resign to "set an example" of accountability in the Church.

Peter Adriaenssens told the daily "De Morgen" that the Pope "should not content himself with just expressing regret." It would be better, he said, if the Pope took dramatic action to show that "one person is taking responsibility."

Adriaenssens and the other members of the Belgian investigating commission -- which had been created by the Belgian bishops -- resigned after a police raid in which all their confidential files were seized by prosecutors.

After a court decision required authorities to return the files, the commission prepared its final report on September 10, revealing that almost 500 people had reported abuse by Catholic priests in Belgium.

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