S.A. Archbishop Speaks Out on Sex Assault Controversy in the Church

Should the Pope actually resign?

The once unthinkable idea of the 'elect of God' being forced out has been raised by Archbishops who accuse Pope Francis of 'protecting' an American Cardinal, who allegedly sexually molested children back in the sixties.

San Antonio's Archbishop, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, says, first of all, Pope Francis is not going to resign.

Secondly, the focus of the new investigation into sexual misconduct in the church should focus on the victims.

"And I emphasize the victims, because in the whole discourse that has happened lately, the victims have been forgotten," the Archbishop said in an interview with 1200 WOAI's Michael Board.

Despite criticism, Garcia-Siller says the church has not been unbending, and has changed the way it investigates and handles allegations of sexual assault by priests and other officials.

"They go immediately, even before we process it internally, we send the allegation to the local district attorney," he said.

For decades, the Catholic Church has been accused of 'hushing up,' the allegations, transferring accused priests around to different churches and not bringing in outside investigators.

The suggestion that Pope Francis should step down is largely driven by the precedent set by Pope Emeritus Benedict, who became the first Pope in centuries to resign, allowing church officials to realize that a resignation of a sitting Pope is possible.

But Garcia-Siller says for Francis to step down wouldn't solve anything.

"Many people in history have asked Popes to resign," he said.  "For us, we are going to follow the truth, and the truth is coming out, little by little, as things unfold."


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