The case of Barros and its handling is mysterious.
Pope Accuses Sex Abuse Victims in Chile of Slandering Bishop
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Bishop Juan Barros Madrid, center, during a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis, far right, on Thursday near Iquique, Chile. The pope said there was “not one single piece of evidence” that Bishop Barros had protected a pedophile priest. Credit Vincenzo Pinto/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
SANTIAGO, Chile — Pope Francis has accused abuse victims in Chile of slandering a bishop who they say protected a pedophile priest, upending his efforts to rehabilitate the Catholic Church’s reputation while visiting South America.
Francis told reporters Thursday there was not a shred of evidence against Bishop Juan Barros Madrid, who victims of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, Chile’s most notorious priest, have accused of being complicit in his crimes.
“The day someone brings me proof against Bishop Barros, then I will talk,” Francis said before celebrating Mass outside the northern Chilean city of Iquique. “But there is not one single piece of evidence. It is all slander. Is that clear?”
The …
Only a few years ago bishops in Ireland (one ordained me) were stepping down from their sees for far less. How come these guys (there's more than Barros) get a pass and a pat on the back from the pope? I suppose Ireland (and the US to be fair) must be further along the learning curve than Rome (and the HF).