Spanish bishops pledge to act against child abuse

Madrid - Spanish bishops will take "more care" and adopt "adequate means" to prevent child abuse by priests, the president of the Spanish bishops' conference said Monday.

"Even one single case of abusing a single child is too much," said Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, who has come under criticism for his earlier silence on pedophilia cases within the Catholic Church.

Church representatives committing such offenses were responsible to God and to "human justice," Rouco told a plenary session of the bishops' conference in Madrid.

The cardinal also expressed support for Pope Benedict XVI, saying there had been attempts to "tarnish" him by "making people believe that abuse has been common" without the Vatican taking "determined action" against it.

Rouco defended the celibacy of Catholic priests, saying the experience of the church had confirmed that it was an "excellent means" to promote the holiness of life.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/319469,spanish-bishops-pledge-to-act-against-child-abuse.html.