Pope shocks Chile by accusing sex abuse victims of slander

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Pope shocks Chile by accusing sex abuse victims of slander

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Today

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Pope Francis accused victims of Chile’s most notorious pedophile of slander Thursday, an astonishing end to a visit meant to help heal the wounds of a sex abuse scandal that has cost the Catholic Church its credibility in the country.

Francis said that until he sees proof that Bishop Juan Barros was complicit in covering up the sex crimes of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, such accusations against Barros are “all calumny.”

The pope’s remarks drew shock from Chileans and immediate rebuke from victims and their advocates. They noted the accusers were deemed credible enough by the Vatican that it sentenced Karadima to a lifetime of “penance and prayer” for his crimes in 2011. A Chilean judge also found the victims to be credible, saying that while she had to drop criminal charges against Karadima because too much time had passed, proof of his crimes wasn’t lacking.

“As if I could have taken a selfie or a photo while Karadima abused me and others and Juan Barros stood by watching it all,” tweeted Barros’ most vocal accuser, Juan Carlos Cruz. “These people are truly crazy, and the pontiff talks about atonement to the victims. Nothing has changed, and his plea for forgiveness is empty.”

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/77f4a7e9779940a48e2347c852516d3c/Pope-shocks-Chile-by-accusing-sex-abuse-victims-of-slander

[Cartoonist]

1. Why

What does Frank think he has accomplished? He has now told the world that he is a pedophile protector. #popetoo

[DonCoquixote]

2. Francis seemed so nice

but he had to reveal his self, the self that a church cannot help but compromise.

[JNelson6563]

3. This is significant.

This will prove a turning point for this Pope. I predict he will become much less popular than he's been in a very short time.

What a blunder!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

4. Leopards always show their spots.

Apologies to leopards.

[Voltaire2]

5. There is a South Park episode that covers this.

[MineralMan]

6. Shame on him!

And so it continues...

[trotsky]

7. He's different. He's special. He's a breath of fresh air. He'll change things.

Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

Some of us were never fooled. We were ignored.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

9. He's SOOOOOOOO liberal. He's the pope we need.

He's going to make changes (they are just going to go really slowly). He's so different than the last guy.

I wonder if people are going to apologize for talking shit about those of us that knew he was the same douchebag in different clothing. And maybe they could take a moment to realize all the other shitty stuff he's said along the way that was pointed out.

[trotsky]

14. Are you kidding me?

We'll never get anything resembling an apology. Thankfully most of the people crowing about him initially are now gone from DU, either by their own decision or that of the site owners.

[Act_of_Reparation]

10. Where is that "cautiously optimistic" crowd now?

[trotsky]

13. Oh yeah, I forgot "cautiously optimistic"!!!

[Act_of_Reparation]

8. Define "shock"

Because the Catholic Church has been calling their victims liars for years now.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. "Bold move, Cotton. Let's see how this plays out for him."

[Nitram]

12. Reporting being violated by a pedophile is slander?

That's giving the accused a huge amount of benefit of the doubt. It is the victims that deserve that until proven otherwise. Shame!

[Anny61]

15. The Pope can so clearly see the wrongs, and unless his own, then he is blind.

People, the way too many roll.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

18. Well, he thinks being gay is wrong, sooooooooo

he can go fuck himself on all accounts.

[MineralMan]

16. Those children tempted their abusers, and now they're lying about it?

Is that what you're saying, Papa? Are you speaking with God's voice, Your Holiness?

Give us a freaking sign, won't you?

[Lordquinton]

17. He's fine with child abuse

Hepraised it, calling it beautiful, as long as you don't hit their face, to spare their dignity.

He also implied anyone insulting the church should expect harm.

Comments about transgender issues, LGBTQIA stuff.

But what does he know, he's just some biblical literalist.