Child sex abuse is like satanic mass, says Pope Francis

Pope Francis said he will have his first meeting with a group of sex abuse victims at the Vatican early next month and would show zero tolerance for anyone in the Catholic Church who abused children, including bishops.

Asked about whether he would move against bishops who were accused of sexual abuse, he said “there will be no daddy’s boys” and no privileges, adding that three bishops were currently under investigation.

“Sexual abuse is such an ugly crime... because a priest who does this betrays the body of the Lord,” said Pope Francis. “It is like a satanic mass,” he said in some of the toughest language he has used on a crisis that has rocked the Church for over a decade. “We must go ahead with zero tolerance.”