The Guadalajara Reporter

Pope passes over abuse victims, new book claims proof of church cover-up

During his visit to Mexico, Pope Benedict XVI notably did not meet with victims of sexual abuse by priests, an omission that earned him criticism from several groups.

The pope does not shun such abuse victims routinely. In fact, he has met with several representative groups in various countries he has visited, but a spokesman for the Vatican said no such meeting was scheduled in Mexico because none of the Mexican bishops requested it, whereas those of other countries had.

The cold shoulder nevertheless stings for many. On Saturday, during the papal visit and very nearby in Leon, Guanajuato, Alberto Athie, Jose Barba and Fernando Gonzalez released their book, “La voluntad de no saber” (“The Will to Not Know”), which accuses the church of protecting for years one their most influential Mexican figures, Marcial Maciel.

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