SYDNEY, Australia, APRIL 21, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Sydney is noting that pedophilia is a problem, but that so-called sexual liberation and the spread of pornography must also be decried.
Cardinal George Pell affirmed this in an article published Sunday on the Sydney Archdiocese Web site.
The cardinal affirmed that «sexual abuse of children is a horrifying crime.»
«That Catholic priests and members of religious orders are among the worst abusers fills all Catholics, including myself, with horror and disgust,» he said.
The prelate pointed out that «it is not just a Church problem, here or overseas.»
He explained, «The relentless pornification of parts of the culture, and the push for sexual ‘liberation,’ which at its extremes wants pedophilia accepted as just another sexual preference, are also part of the problem.
«Pope Benedict XVI has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks over his handling of sexual abuse by priests,» the cardinal noted.
«Media attention like this can be searing,» the prelate affirmed. «But in Australia it played a significant part in helping the Church to tackle sexual abuse and bring justice to the victims.»
He acknowledged that «some of the recent coverage has been inaccurate or reported only part of the story.»
Decisive action
However, the cardinal added, «the record shows that Pope Benedict has acted decisively and determinedly to care for victims and eradicate sexual abuse from the Church.»
He recalled that «the Pope has met victims of abuse in Australia and the United States and publicly apologized to them.»
«As a senior cardinal under Pope John Paul II, he realized that church processes were inadequate and that local bishops had made too many mistakes in dealing with allegations of pedophilia,» Cardinal Pell noted.
He continued, «With John Paul II, he expedited processes for investigating complaints and defrocking abuser priests.»
«When prominent atheists call for the Pope to be arrested and brought before the International Criminal Court, you have to wonder if they are more concerned about grandstanding than sexual abuse,» the cardinal asserted.
«As one British atheist observed, it is ironic that some atheists want to conduct their own Inquisition,» Cardinal Pell noted.
He added: «Richard Dawkins, one of those behind the push to nab the Pope, has even claimed that bringing a child up Catholic is more damaging than sexual abuse.
«This hardly suggests taking sexual abuse seriously.»
The cardinal ended his article by stating that «Pope Benedict’s role in confronting this evil should be acknowledged» so that «others in the wider community could follow his example.»
