Pope Francis, lauded by liberals for his sharp critiques of free market fundamentalism and environmental neglect, made headlines Thursday for his defense of Chilean Bishop Juan Barros Madrid, widely reviled in Chile for his role in a sexual abuse scandal involving a priest named Fernando Karadima.
Karadima, who has been sentenced to “a life of prayer and penitence,” wasn’t investigated by the Vatican until 20 years after the first credible accusations had been leveled. It’s stories like this one, repeated across decades and continents, that have necessitated Pope Francis’ efforts to repair the Church’s reputation with Catholics of all generations.
http://religiondispatches.org/they-have-no-intention-of-changing-an-interview-with-sex-abuse-expert-on-popes-fierce-defense-of-accused-bishop/
http://religiondispatches.org/they-have-no-intention-of-changing-an-interview-with-sex-abuse-expert-on-popes-fierce-defense-of-accused-bishop/