Archbishop Nichols Praises Pope Benedict's Reforms of Vatican Procedures in Clerical
Abuse Allegations
(27 Mar 10 -RV) Vatican Spokesperson Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi released a statement
today on the eve of Holy Week.
Fr Lombardi said that recognising cases of
clerical abuse and making amends with the victims is the best way to restore justice
and to achieve that "purification of memory" which enables us to look to the future
with renewed commitment, humility and trust.
He went on to say that many positive
and encouraging steps have been and are being taken by various episcopal conferences,
bishops and Catholic institutions in different countries on the various continents
to address the past and move forward in hope.
Meanwhile,
Archbishop
Vincent Nichols of the Diocese of Westminster in England has explained how extensive
the then Cardinal Ratzinger’s reforms of Vatican procedures were after he took over
responsibility for dealing with clerical sex abuse allegations in 2001.
Writing
in the British press the Archbishop said that Pope Benedict XVI was part of the solution,
not the problem, in both his actions, as well as his words.
We spoke to Archbishop
Nichols about the lessons that have been learned in the UK in dealing with abuse of
minors by clergy: