This article originally appeared on NCR, by Josephine McKenna.
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has condemned clerical sex abuse as an “absolute monstrosity” and asked victims and their families for forgiveness on behalf of the Catholic church.
“How can a priest in the service of Christ and his church cause so much evil?” the pope said. “This is an absolute monstrosity, a horrendous sin, completely opposed to what Christ teaches us.”
The pope said he had personally witnessed the damage caused by clerical abuse and it affected him deeply.
“Several victims have committed suicide. These deaths weigh on my heart and my conscience and on the whole church,” Francis said.
“To their families I send my feelings of love and heartache and humbly ask their forgiveness.”
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