By George Cardinal Pell
THE evil of sexual abuse has no place in the Catholic Church and no one should doubt Benedict XVI's resolve to see it eradicated. His unprecedented pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland reflects his deep compassion for the victims of sexual abuse and his strong commitment to seeing that justice is done.
The Pope has met victims of sexual abuse in Australia and elsewhere. He has heard first-hand what they have suffered.
He is a man of immense compassion and goodness, and is personally committed to doing all he can to bring justice and healing to the victims.
In his pastoral letter, the Pope warns priests and others in the church who have abused children that they will have to answer to God and the courts for what they have done.
He directly addresses those who have abused children: "You have betrayed the trust that was placed in you by innocent young people and their parents, and you must answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals."
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