Pope Francis is calling for "decisive action" in the fight against sex abuse of minors by priests. He instructed Bishop Gerhard Mueller, the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith - the Vatican's watchdog that deals with sex abuse cases - to protect children and make sure appropriate action is taken against those who are found guilty. It's the pontiff's first public statement on clerical sex abuse since he was elected on March 13th, 2013. A sex abuse survivors' group has responded with scepticism.
Anne Lawrence from MACSAS - Ministry and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors - gives Premier her reaction:
A statement from the Vatican said the Pope recommended in particular that the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith continued to build on the work of Benedict 16th in this area. Which includes promoting measures for child protection; help for the many who in the past have suffered such violence; and that those who are guilty are punished - all of which are of great importance to the "credibility of the Church". Ms Lawrence tells Premier what actions she feels are necessary to back up the statement:
The Pontiff also assured that the victims of abuse and their suffering are especially present in his thoughts and prayers. When Pope Benedict XVI stepped down, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years, among the legacies he left for his successor was to solve a number of sex abuses cases involving clergymen. And when Cardinals met in Rome to elect the next pontiff thousands of Catholics signed petitions to stop those alleged to have protected priests accused of child sex abuse from voting. It also emerged this week that a national inquiry into child abuse in Melbourne, Australia will look at a number of church groups. Prime Minister Julia Gillard is warning the commission will unearth "some very uncomfortable truths". A recent ComRes poll for Premier Christian Radio of 2,000 adults showed child abuse within the Catholic Church should be the first issue the new Pope tackles and that improving the Church's reputation should be high on the Pope's agenda.