Pope Vows 'Church Action' on Abuse

Pope Benedict XVI promised today that the Catholic Church would confront the clerical sex-abuse scandal, making his first public comments on the crisis days after meeting with victims. During his weekly public audience, Benedict recounted his tearful weekend meeting in Malta with eight men who say they were abused as children. "I shared with them their suffering, and emotionally prayed with them, assuring them of church action," Benedict said.

Neither Benedict nor the Vatican has elaborated on what action or measures are being considered. The pope's comments today marked his first public and direct remarks on the crisis since March 20, when he wrote a letter to the Irish faithful concerning the abuse crisis in that country.