Late last week, Pope Benedict XVI met with scores of cardinals from around the world for “a day of reflection and prayer” prior to the installation of 24 new cardinals. The assembly of church officials is the third such meeting in the Pope’s five-year tenure as the bishop of Rome. According to the Vatican, the meeting is an opportunity to discuss pressing issues facing the Catholic Church, including the ever-widening sexual abuse scandal and its apparent cover-up.
Today, some four days after the high-level meeting, details of a sweeping plan to correct past abuses and prevent future violations have not been announced. At the moment, it appears that the Church has missed an important opportunity to hold accountable the predators within it ranks and those who enable that behavior.
For the time being, it is up to congregants, survivors, and those who support them to bring a stop to the abuse. If you saw, suffered, or suspected that abuse has occurred, take action and seek help.
