Papal letter puts bishops under extra pressure

UNDER-FIRE bishops are likely to face further pressure, following direct criticism by the Pope of their handling of clerical child sex abuse.

In his pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, the main points of which were read out to congregations across the country at services on Saturday night and yesterday, Pope Benedict directly criticised the handling of clerical child sex abuse by Irish bishops.

“It cannot be denied that some of you and your predecessors failed, at times grievously, to apply the long-established norms of canon law to the crime of child abuse. Serious mistakes were made in responding to allegations.