VOA新闻杂志--梵蒂冈前教皇对教会性虐待儿童案说法改口

Former Pope Admits 'Errors' in Handling of Sex Abuse Cases

Retired¹ pope Benedict XVI has admitted to making "errors," or mistakes, in dealing² with clergy³ sex abuse cases when he was Archbishop of Munich in Germany.

The former leader of the Roman Catholic Church has asked for the Church's forgiveness. At the same time, his lawyers have denied any wrongdoing on his part.

The Vatican released a letter by Benedict on Tuesday. In it, he wrote, "I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate⁵."

The letter followed an independent investigative report released last month by a German law firm. Germany's Roman Catholic Church hired the law firm to do the report, which looked at how cases of sexual abuse were dealt with in the Munich archdiocese between 1945 and 2019. The report noted⁶ Benedict's failure to act on four cases of sexual abuse by clergy even after the abusers had been found guilty.

Benedict, then known as Cardinal⁸ Joseph Ratzinger, led the archdiocese from 1977 to 1982. The report said other religious leaders who came before and after Ratzinger made mistakes, too.

Benedict said in his letter, "...I can only express to all the victims of sexual abuse my profound shame, my deep sorrow, and my heartfelt request for forgiveness."

The letter came with a document from his lawyers disputing the report's claims against the former pope. The lawyers criticized the report and argued that it provided no evidence that Benedict knew of the criminal history of any of the four clergymen in question.

"As an archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any cover-ups of acts of abuse," they wrote.

The reform group Wir sind Kirche (We are Church) quickly criticized the former pope. The group said the former leader "still sees himself as a victim."

The head of the German bishops⁹' conference, Limburg Bishop⁴ Georg Baetzing, had earlier said that Benedict needed to say, "I incurred¹¹ guilt⁷, I made mistakes and I apologize to those affected¹²." Baetzing added," It won't work any other way."

Benedict stepped down from his position as pope unexpectedly in 2013. In his letter this week, he thanked Pope Francis for the "confidence, support and prayer ... personally expressed to me".

The Vatican had earlier defended Benedict's record following last month's report. The church said Benedict was the first pope to meet with victims of abuse and sought to punish the abusers. The Vatican's defense¹³, however, centered on Benedict's time as head of the Holy See's doctrine¹⁴ office, from 1982 until he was elected pope in 2005.

At the end of his letter, Benedict noted that he is at the end of his life and will soon be judged by God. He wrote, "Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life."

Words in This Story

occur - v. happen

mandate - n. power to act

archdiocese - n. an area under the leadership of an archbishop

profound - adj. very strongly felt

shame - n. feeling of guilt, regret and sadness

sorrow - n. a cause of grief or sadness

bishop - n. a religious official who ranks higher than a priest or clergy

incur¹⁰ - v. to have experience

confidence - n. a feeling that someone is good

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

4 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

5 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

8 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

9 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

10 incur   

vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇

参考例句：

• Any costs that you incur will be reimbursed in full.你的所有花费都将全额付还。
• An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business.一个企业为了维持营业,就不得不承担一定的费用和开支。

11 incurred   

[医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式

参考例句：

• She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚，使父亲震怒。
• We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。

12 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

13 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

14 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。