Jolylon:"break the back of this insidious institution"

An institution that has priests with a lower rate of paedophilia than fathers of families. What would that help?

Perhaps you have been brainwashed, Jolylon.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

Perhaps the easiest way to break the back of this insidious institution would be to revoke it's charitable status country by country. Sexual crimes by its clergy and even some popes have been perpetrated and shielded for too many centuries. Enough is Enough.

jolyon curran, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

And these are the people us 'sinners' are supposed to turn to for moral guidance? The only thing more sickening than the abuse itself is the response of the Church in allowing such people to continue in positions of authority. But then the Bible says nothing about consent, so what can we expect?

Sophie, Liverpool,

The Catholic Church continues to treat the sexual abuse by its officials as a joke.
Any wonder so many people are leaving the church.3
By the way , are priests and bishops still preaching about sin?

Robert Postuma, Montreal, Canada

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mr Foster and his surviving daughter, Katie. Mr Foster's life has been completely ruined by a paedophile priest; Bishop Fisher's comment on the matter is evidence that the Church wishes simply to sweep the matter under the carpet.

Where is God's message?

Des, Edinburgh,

It may be insensitive, but the bishop is right.

And this guy is asking the Pope to make a begging apology and provide resources. However catholic priests have a lower rate of paedophilia than the general population, so this makes no sense: the Church is not the cause. The guy has an agenda.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

What happened to these girls at school was a great EVIL and destructive of their lives- and we needed to know, empathise, etc. - BUT those who are focusing now for a few days on the legitimate HOPE and happiness of the World Youth Day celebrations should not be denied their right to do so...

Danuta Padley, Oxford, United Kingdom

There will always be good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things, but for good people to do evil things it also takes religion. alan.

alan frankcom, solihull, uk

No child's behind left.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

Bishop Fisher's response explains a good part of why Catholics have left the pews in droves - another cleric who is ignorant, condescending and not worthy to call himself a descendent of the Apostles. Two little daughters repeatedly raped - where is his humanity! What a horrid man!

Mary Adragna MD, New York,,

Yes 'tim, Sydney, AUS', The Catholic church has been irrelevant for the last 600 years.

Except for those 1 billion followers. Think before you type next time.

FrankT, Seattle, USA

Bishop Anthony Fisher doesn't have any children that we know of so he can't possibly know what pain this family is in. He now owes this man an apology.

John, Shreveport, USA

Priests or any one else that sexually abuses the young are wrong and need to be blamed as individuals, not necessarily as representatives of the Catholic church. Anyone expecting the Pope to be responsible for the mutli thousands of priests in the world is ridiculous.Blame the perpetrators.

Anita, Boca, USA

one of the many reasons why the catholic church has been irrelevant for the last 600 years

tim, Sydney, AUS

The Cardinal in question, should be prosecuted like any other rapist and receive exactly the same penalty. Can someone please explain why sexual abuse comitted by a priest is any different than sexual abise perpetrated by anyone else? What all this nonsense about apologies?

Michael CURLEY, Morges, Switzerland

The Roman Catholic church is a vast financial & political empire run by senior citizens with an 8th c. vision. Why should anyone expect fair settlements? It´s about as far from the biblical teachings of christ as it´s possible to get!

Rob, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Let us pray that this is not only about money. A small percentage of bishops do need to be replaced. But,alas,this must be very painful for a family to carry on. Pray for this family and priest. Ditto what Mary Theresa said above.

Mark Anthony Paul, SFV,CA., USA

In Australia, Fisher's idiotic comments has resulted in calls for Pell to sack him. They demonstrates that fools still run the Church given Pell's stupid attitude of denying gays access to the Church. No wonder Australia's youth have no interest in the Catholic religion.

michael, Sydney, Australia

That poor family! God rest the soul of his daughter Emma. How heartbreaking. What a thing to to say to a broken family! How cruel. Well, my prayers are forever with you, sir, and your wife, and Katie and for Emma. May our Lady be always near you and comfort you in your extreme and unfathomable pain.

Mary Theresa, LosAngeles, USA

Bishop Fisher's comments are indicative of the attitude which caused much of the bishops overlooking sexual abuse and their victims. No punishment here on earth will be like the punishment rendered by God the Father on Judgement day.
There may be forgiveness but there is always required atonement.

Michele, Centreville, USA

Although made aware of his crimes, the church kept O'Donnell in parish work until he retired gracefully from full-time ministry in 1992, after 50 years of sexual abuse. They then conferred on him the title Pastor Emeritus -meaning "retired with honour'. Cranky or what ?

TD, London,

Wonder if Bishop Fisher regards other people that remember ' old wounds', such as the holocaust, as being cranky ! Also, the Catholic Church in the USA has paid out about $2 million in abuse damages far, and that is what will hurt them most, so I'm all for massive settlements !!

DH, SE London, UK

The article says: "Father Kevin O’Donnell, was convicted in 1996 of the abuse of 11 boys and one girl, aged between 8 and14, between 1946 and 1977." But the two girls were attacked between 1988 and 1993.

So... a priest was charged with abuse/on trial, and STILL serving in a primary school?

Amanda, Cambridge, MA, USA

“...and supporting them in every way possible and putting the full resources of the Church behind that support so they can have a reasonable life”.

Can someone say "financial settlement"? I think that is what most people are after. He says it right here.

Geoffrey, Monterey, USA

Wow! And I thought the bishops in the United States went too far and were totally insensitive! This one beats them all!! Obviously, he has never met either a victim of sexual abuse by a priest or a parent. If he had, he would understand the pain that both experience every day of their lives

gabe, Vista, USA

Has the Bishop forgotten that all Catholics are encouraged to dwell on the "old wounds" of Christ to foster guilt for sin and a desire for repentance? That these "old wounds" are what saved us and showed His love and compassion for humanity. Funny how that same Jesus healed "old wounds all the time!

Denise Koo, Ohio, USA

Bishop Anthony Fisher's comments are outrageous. Where should be sensitivity there is callousness, where there
should be contrition there is apathy, and where there should be humility there is arrogance.

Chris, Dorking,