Vatican calls for prayers for the abused

The BBC reports that bishops in the Catholic Church have invited parishioners in England and Wales to make the four Fridays in the month special days of prayer for children abused by priests.

All this is very laudable, but of no practical use whatsoever to those whose trust has been betrayed by Roman Catholic priests. What is needed is robust child protection procedures, properly implemented and a commitment to compensate and assist those who have been abused. In any event, many Roman Catholics are bound to ask why so much of the money that they pay to the church, now has to go to victims and their lawyers. Prayer is not going to answer that question.