Bishops in Britain offer full apology for child abuse

CATHOLIC bishops in England and Wales yesterday offered a full apology and said there were “no excuses” for the child abuse scandals that have rocked the Church.

A joint statement presented by the Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols was issued on behalf of the bishops at the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and will go out to all parishes at the end of a plenary meeting in Leeds.

The statement described the crimes carried out by some priests and religious figures as a “profound scandal” and said: “They bring deep shame to the whole Church. But shame is not enough. The abuse of children is a grievous sin against God.