Pope urges bishops to be just, merciful on sex abuse questions

Published: 2003-10-09

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In dealing with accusations that priests are guilty of sexual misconduct, bishops must "always be just and always be merciful," Pope John Paul II told Philippine prelates. "True discipleship calls for love, compassion and, at times, strict discipline in order to serve the common good," the pope said Oct. 9 in a message to bishops making their "ad limina" visits to Rome, required of heads of dioceses every five years. The Catholic Church in the Philippines has been rocked by a handful of well-publicized accusations of sexual abuse or misconduct against priests and two bishops. In July, the national bishops' conference moved to finalize procedures for dealing with sexual misconduct by clergy. Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Lipa, chairman of the bishops' Commission on Clergy, said the procedures emphasize the healing of victims and offending priests.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .