The enemy within

Katie van Schaijik | May 11, 2010

The Pope had sobering words about Church scandals today. They are sobering, but cheering too, because they are true, and offer hope for healing.

“Today we see in a truly terrifying way that the greatest persecution of the church does not come from outside enemies but is born of sin within the church,” the 83-year-old pontiff said in response to a question about the scandal, submitted in advance.

“The church has a deep need to learn to do penance, accept purification, and to learn to ask forgiveness,” he said. But he added that “forgiveness cannot be a substitute for justice.”

Do penance; accept purification; ask forgiveness; and do not imagine that the demand for justice is vindictive and unforgiving.