Pope Benedict in the US

Pope Benedict will shortly be in the United States of America. He will speak at the UN and meet President George W Bush.

It has been reported in the newspapers that a request was made that he meet victims of child sex abuse. The newspapers have reported that the request has been turned down and that the Vatican has said it is now a closed issue.

That has to be a lost opportunity. It would have been a great sign of a suffering church, a church that is repentant and conscious of the terrible wrong that has been done.

If the Vatican did say, as reported, that it is now a closed issue, it is clear that they have little understanding of the great damage that has been caused and continues to be caused on those who have been abused.

Only for the work of the media and the bravery of victims, the world would be unaware of so much wrong-doing perpetrated by some clerics. There are many men and women who have decided not to come forward for various and different reasons. The lives of victims have been damaged, in many cases forever.

If a Vatican official did say that it is now 'a closed issue' it is yet another scandal perpetrated by the hierarchical church.