VOA常速英语2008年-Pope Expresses Deep Shame Over Clergy Sex Abuse

By Meredith Buel
Washington
15 April 2008

Pope Benedict XVI says he is "deeply ashamed" of the sex abuse scandal staining the U.S. Catholic Church and is pledging to work to make sure pedophiles do not become priests. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Washington.

Speaking to reporters aboard the Alitalia airliner¹ taking him from Rome to his first papal visit to the United States, Pope Benedict says the sex scandal has caused great suffering for the church and for him personally.

The pontiff says it is difficult for him to understand how priests could betray their mission to children.

Benedict says he is deeply ashamed by the scandal and that pedophiles will be banned from ministry².

This is the first visit by this pope to America and it comes after a massive scandal erupted involving sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests.

The church has paid at least $2 billion to victims of abuse since 1950, the majority of it since 2002. Hundreds of priests have been removed.

Both U.S. Catholic cardinals³ and groups representing victims have recommended that the pope meet with some of the abused church members during his visit, although no such meetings have been announced.

Helen Alvare, an associate professor of law at Catholic University, chaired a commission investigating clerical abuse.

"One of the greatest sorrows, the greatest violations⁵, was what I would almost say was an inability to understand how deep the violation⁴ goes," she said. "As a church that speaks about the sacredness of sex, one would think that we would have had a grip on how deep that violation went for those children and the those families and we did not seem to."

Most Catholic dioceses in America now require criminal background checks on employees. They are also teaching parents, children and teachers how to recognize and respond to signs of abuse.

Catholic University Provost James Brennan says the church has taken major steps to address the scandal.

"Once the hierarchy⁶ and the church in general realized the severity of the problem, the devastation⁷ that the problem brought upon children, I think that the proactive steps that the bishops⁸ have taken to address that in a Christian⁹, loving way, has been positive," he said.

A newly released poll by the Washington Post newspaper says 74 percent of American Catholics have favorable views of Pope Benedict.

However, nearly the same number, 73 percent, say they do not approve of how the Catholic Church has handled the sex abuse scandal.

While in the U.S., the pope will mark two personal milestones¹⁰. His 81st birthday is Wednesday. Saturday marks the third anniversary of his election as pontiff.

1 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 cardinals   

红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数

参考例句：

• cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
• A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

6 hierarchy   

n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层

参考例句：

• There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.那个国家有一套严密的权力等级制度。
• She's high up in the management hierarchy.她在管理阶层中地位很高。

7 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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。

9 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

10 milestones   

n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

参考例句：

• Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件，并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网