Vatican VI: The pope speaks

The Associated Press reports from Vatican City that Pope Benedict XVI broke his recent silence on the clerical abuse scandal, saying in unprepared remarks at a Mass inside the Vatican that "we Christians" must repent for sins and recognize mistakes.

"I must say, we Christians, even in recent times, have often avoided the word 'repent', which seemed too tough. But now under attack from the world, which has been telling us about our sins ... we realize that it's necessary to repent, in other words, recognize what is wrong in our lives. . . Open ourselves to forgiveness ... and let ourselves be transformed. The pain of repentance, which is a purification and transformation, is a grace because it is renewal and the work of divine mercy.

OK. These were "off the cuff remarks." So we shouldn't portray them as his considered and final word. . . . But repent? . . . Open ourselves to forgiveness and be transformed?

That's it?

Nobody has to pay any earthly consequences?

Well, they did revise the recommendations to bishops by inserting a sentence that tells them to report abuse crimes to the police -- claiming that it has been the policy all along, even though not in writing.

However, the AP article also says that senior Vatican officials were quoted in 2002 saying that requiring bishops to report abusive priests to the police would violate the trust between the priests and the church, and therefore bishops shouldn't be required to report the abuse.

This is about crimes and innocent victims. The church is not above the law of the land. Every week brings confirmation of the fact that the Vatican just doesn't get it. And maybe they are not capable of understanding what this is all about.

Ralph