Pedophilia:Catholic bodies express shame

(ANSA) - Vatican City, February 19 - Two bodies representing Catholic religious on Tuesday released a statement expressing shame at child sex abuse committed by members of the Church ahead of this week's big meeting in the Vatican on the protection of minors. "This particular meeting focuses on the sexual abuse of children and the abuse of power and conscience by those in authority in the Church, especially bishops, priests and religious," said a statement by the Union of Superior Generals (USG) and the International Union of Superiors General (UISC).
    "It is a story stretching back for decades, a narrative of immense pain for those who have suffered this abuse.
    "We bow our heads in shame at the realisation that such abuse has taken place in our Congregations and Orders, and in our Church. "We have learned that those who abuse deliberately hide their actions and are manipulative. "By definition, it is difficult to uncover this abuse. "Our shame is increased by our own lack of realisation of what has been happening. "We acknowledge that when we look at Provinces and Regions in our Orders and Congregations across the world, that the response of those in authority has not been what it should have been.
    "They failed to see warning signs or failed to take them seriously.
    "Our hope for this meeting is that the Holy Spirit will work powerfully during these three days. "A three-day meeting is a short time. "However, we believe that with the winds of change blowing through our Church and with goodwill on all sides, important processes and structures of accountability can be started and the ones already in place can be supported.
    "New steps forward can be imagined and decisions can be made so that implementation can follow speedily and universally with proper respect for different cultures.
    "The abuse of children is wrong anywhere and anytime: this point is not negotiable".