False impression

MICHAEL KELLY’S excellent analysis of the state of the Catholic Church (January 21) was spoiled by the inaccurate caption under the accompanying photograph of Pope Benedict.

The caption read: “Pope Benedict XVI: Has not referred to ‘sinful’ nature of abuse.”

This gave the impression that the Pope does not believe the sexual abuse of children is sinful. This is just plain wrong, hugely damaging and grossly misleading. As Michael Kelly pointed out in his piece, “the German pontiff has underlined his ability to call a spade a spade by repeatedly referring to the “criminal” and not just the sinful nature of abuse”.