Pope Francis today condemned the child abuse allegations detailed in a Pennsylvania grand jury report as “criminal and morally reprehensible,” but failed to mention whether church personnel would be disciplined in light of the damning findings.
“The Holy Father understands well how much these crimes can shake the faith and the spirit of believers and reiterates the call to make every effort to create a safe environment for minors and vulnerable adults in the Church and in all of society,” Greg Burke, Francis’ spokesman, said in a statement Thursday, according to NBC.
“Victims should know that the Pope is on their side,” Burke continued. “Those who have suffered are his priority, and the Church wants to listen to them to root out this tragic horror that destroys the lives of the innocent.”
Francis’ response follows two days of silence since the release of the 1,356-page grand jury report, which covers the alleged abuse of more than 1,000 children dating back to the 1950s at the hands of 300 plus “predator” Roman Catholic priests across the state.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Tuesday the cover-up orchestrated by top Pennsylvania and Vatican church officials unearthed by the two-year grand jury investigation were “sophisticated,” per the Associated Press.
Despite the probe prompting charges being laid against two clergymen, most perpetrators will avoid prosecution because they are no longer alive or they are protected by the statute of limitations, the AP reported.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington who spent 18 years as the bishop of Pittsburgh, “has no plans to resign” amid fallout from the report.
