Pope Drawing Mixed Reaction for First Public Comments About Sex Abuse Scandal
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pope John Paul II is drawing mixed reaction for his first public comments about the priest sex abuse scandal. And some advocates for the victims say the pontiff's remarks show the church cares more about the clergy than about their victims. But others are pleased with the pope's address, which came during World Youth Day festivities in Toronto. Jim Bittermann now has details.</s>JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For most of these World Youth Days, American bishops and priests have tried to keep the focus away from the sexual abuse scandals in the U.S. But to the surprise of some, Pope John Paul II took up the matter directly. At an outdoor mass for hundreds of thousands, the pope, for the first time since the crisis broke earlier this year, publicly told young people about his sense of sadness and shame over it. "Do not be discouraged," the pope said, "by the failings of some members of the church." And then he added with special emphasis...</s>POPE JOHN PAUL II: But think of the vast majority of dedicated and generous priests whose only wish is to serve and do good.</s>BITTERMANN: Several young people in the crowd were happy the pope addressed the subject.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now when it's said all over the world or to all kinds of people, it's, I think it's very great that he says that, that he really condemns it in public.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he did a good job and I think that what he said, it made a lot of sense to me.</s>BITTERMANN: The papal mass came after an all night vigil, during which the pope reminded young people the 21st century started with the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Christ and the anger and hatred of the September 11 attacks. "God is entrusting you," John Paul said, "in the building of a civilization of love." (on camera): In the end, by raising the September 11 attacks and the church's sex abuse scandals here, the pope touched on the two issues many U.S. Catholics wanted mentioned, references which may not have satisfied everyone, but which at least were an acknowledgement of Vatican concern. (voice-over): As their last meeting here drew to a close, John Paul announced that the next World Youth Day would be held three years from now in Germany. But unlike in the past, the pope did not promise to join the young people there. The pope is old, he had said at the mass, and he directed the young to keep the spirit of these gatherings alive. Jim Bittermann, CNN, Toronto, Canada.</s>COOPER: Well, the pontiff leaves Toronto this morning. His next stop is Guatemala. There, Pope John Paul II will declare Central America's first saint. Thousands of Catholic faithful have already been visiting the tomb of Saint Pedro. He was a 17th century church janitor who turned his back on his family, flunked out of divinity school and later found his calling with prisoners, abandoned children, as well as the poor. About Sex Abuse Scandal>