Benedict denies cover up in what is
believed to be first statement directly
responding to sexual abuse accusations.
Former Pope Benedict has denied that he
tried to cover up sexual abuse of children
by Roman Catholic priests, in his first direct
published comments since he stepped
down in February.
The comments, which a victims group
rejected, were made in an 11-page letter to
Italian author and mathematician
Piergiorgio Odifreddi, who had written a
book about the problems facing the Church
before the pope resigned in February.
"As far as you mentioning the moral abuse
of minors by priests, I can only, as you
know, acknowledge it with profound
consternation. But I never tried to cover up
these things," said Benedict, who now has
the title Emeritus Pope.
Excerpts of the letter were published in the
Rome newspaper La Repubblica on Tuesday
with the former pope's permission.
Victims groups have accused Benedict of
not doing enough to stop the abuse of
children by priests while he was pope and
before when he was head of the Vatican's
doctrinal office, the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).
The Survivors Network of those Abused by
Priests (SNAP) rejected his assertion.
"In the Church's entire history, no one knew
more but did less to protect kids than
Benedict," SNAP said in statement.
"As head of CDF, thousands of cases of
predator priests crossed his desk. Did he
choose to warn families or call police about
even one of those dangerous clerics? No.
That, by definition, is a cover up," the SNAP
statement said.
Victims groups say there is much still to be
discovered about how the Church behaved
in the past and want more bishops who
were aware of abuse to be held responsible.

this is sad to hear.