Dublin
The Catholic Church in Ireland has formally apologized for covering up child sex-abuse scandals for years. In the past year, more than 100 Irish priests have been convicted of molesting children, and hundreds more face charges. Last week, in one of the most notorious cases, a priest was jailed for raping 25 boys in the ’60s and ’70s, when he worked at a church-run orphanage. An independent report on the church’s handling of the scandal, published this week, found that most victims had been treated callously, and some of them were threatened. “We are truly sorry,” said Archbishop Sean Brady. “While we cannot undo the wrongs of the past, we can use this research to help us deal with victims of abuse with understanding, compassion, and sensitivity.”
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