Irish Times: Guilty clergy must 'admit blame'

Monday, February 15, 2010
PATSY McGARRY
Religious Affairs Correspondent in Rome

A top Vatican official has told Irish bishops in Rome for talks with the pope on the Irish Church's handling of child abuse that clergy who had sinned must admit blame for "abominable acts".

The message came in the sermon of a mass in St Peter's Basilica shortly before the bishops began two days of crisis talks with the pope to formulate a response to the revelations of abuse by clergy that have shaken devoutly Catholic Ireland.

The meeting between Pope Benedict, six senior Curial Cardinals, and 24 Irish bishops resumed this afternoon and is expected to continue until this evening. the rest