A
recent article from the dubious Your News Wire, Pope
Francis Forgives 4,444 Pedophile Priests In Australia was
"debunked" by the equally dubious snopes.com
The
Pope Has Been Quietly Forgiving Paedophile Priests
Sexual abuse survivors and church officials have slammed Pope Francis for reducing the sanctions placed on paedophile priests.
As
part of the Pope’s vision of a ‘merciful church’ the Pontiff
have reduced sentences for sex offenders within the church to a
lifetime of prayer and penance, The
International Business Insider reports.
This
includes to recently convicted priests who were found guilty by the
Vatican of abusing boys who were punished in such a fashion
overruling the advice given to him by the Vatican Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith.
One
of these priests, Reverend Mauro Inzoli who abused boys as young as
12, was originally punished by being defrocked however he appealed
the sentence and Francis reduced the penalty to a lifetime of prayer
and to continue service in a restricted ministry.
As
part of his new punishment Inzoli is no longer allowed to perform
mass in public, is barred from his diocese and has to undergo five
years of psychotherapy.
Getty
The
Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had recommended
stricter punishments but Inzoli was allowed to continue working as a
priest.
Pope
Francis’ decision was met with outrage in the northern Italian town
of Cremona, where the abuse took place.
Abuse
survivor and founding member of Francis’ sex-abuse advisory
commission, Marie Collins, has criticised the Pope’s decision.
She
said:
All who abuse have made a conscious decision to do so. Even those who are paedophiles, experts will tell you, are still responsible for their actions. They can resist their inclinations.
While mercy is important, justice for all parties is equally important,” she added. “If there is seen to be any weakness about proper penalties, then it might well send the wrong message to those who would abuse.
Despite
this church officials maintain that priests who are defrocked pose
more of a risk to society without the church to control them
Greg
Burke, a Vatican spokesman, defended the Pope’s actions and
claimed the church put strict restrictions in place which are
intended to supervise the priest’s conduct and prevent their access
to children.
He
added:
The Holy Father understands that many victims and survivors can find any sign of mercy in this area difficult, but he knows that the Gospel message of mercy is ultimately a source of powerful healing and of grace.
Pope
Francis has been praised as a progressive Pope with liberal views on
homosexuality, contraception and atheism in contrast to his more
conservative predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.
Benedict
XVI, reportedly defrocked 800 priests who’d been found guilty of
sexual abuse.
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