Pope expresses confidence in U.S. bishops' handling of abuse crisis

Published: 2004-04-02

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II expressed his confidence in the U.S. bishops' handling of the sex abuse crisis, saying their willingness to address past mistakes and failures would ultimately make the church a more credible witness of the Gospel. At the same time, the pope said the problems generated by the crisis should not silence the bishops' "prophetic" voice in a society marked by materialism and a diminished sense of the sacred. After going through a "time of purification," the bishops need to offer a witness of hope to their country and the world, the pope said April 2 in a speech to 20 U.S. bishops. The bishops, from Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, were the first of 14 groups who will come to Rome for their "ad limina" visits, held every five years.

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