The apology Benedict should have given

Since the Irish abuse issue became a national scandal that has rocked the local Church, similar abuse cases have been reported in other European countries notably Germany and the Pope's own former archdiocese of Munich, Spain, Austria and Switzerland. These follow on from continuing scandals in Australia, the United States, Great Britain, Mexico and Brazil. Sexual abuse in the Church is now at last being seen as a worldwide phenomenon.

Pope Benedict's letter to the Irish Church released this weekend is indeed a watershed in the way the Church speaks on abuse committed by priests and religious. It is a deeply personal document and his condemnation of abuse, compassion for the victims and criticisms of bishops is stated with sincerity and some passion.

Victim advocacy groups in Ireland and Australia remain dissatisfied. They point out that while the Pope's letter does criticise the Irish bishops for their conduct, the Pope's letter fails to address the errors made by himself and Vatican officials. It is this failure to address these issues that leads for a call for significant structural change in the Church.

Could I humbly suggest that the Pope's letter would have been better received, not just in Ireland but throughout the world, if he had added a few extra paragraphs. Let me be his ghost writer.

On the role of the papacy and Vatican personnel in this scandal

I am deeply sorry for my part in this scandal and that of other Vatican officials.

I'm sorry that we often failed to investigate complaints and accused the media of intentionally manipulating statistics with a desire to discredit the Church. I've instructed all Vatican officials, especially the Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, to desist from making such statements.

I'm sorry that the instruction that I issued in 2001 when head of the Congregation of Doctrine of the Faith calling for absolute confidentiality in sexual abuse cases was interpreted by some bishops as meaning they should not inform civil authorities. This was not the intention.

I know many of you will be concerned with recent allegations that I was aware that Peter Hullerman, a convicted sex offender, was allowed to continue in the ministry while I was the Archbishop of Munich. I will fully cooperate with any enquiry into this matter and I urge all bishops throughout the world to similarly cooperate with civil authorities and make available all relevant documents.

I'm sorry that the papal nuncio used the excuse of diplomatic protocol to avoid giving evidence at the Irish government enquiries. I have ordered him to cooperate fully with future government requests.

I'm calling on all bishops to set up completely independent panels to supervise the handling of abuse cases in each diocese and to ensure that victims and their families are represented on these panels.I will ask bishops and heads of religious orders to be bound by the recommendations of these panels.

I ask bishops to desist from impugning the motives of support groups especially charges that they are out to profit from a 'victim's industry'.

John Paul II was a great pope in many ways but in this area he had some serious failings. I'm sorry in particular that he failed to act on the numerous complaints against Marcial Maciel the founder of the Legionaries of Christ and continued to include him in his entourage during papal tours. I did act on this matter when I became pope and removed Maciel from any public ministry. Subsequent additional revelations of Maciel's misconduct show nothing is gained from cover-ups.

I regret that when Boston Archbishop Bernard Law was forced to resign, John Paul gave him a major post in Rome in charge of the Basilica of Mary Major and allowed him to keep his positions on Vatican committees. I have asked Bernard Law to be honest about his role in the Boston scandals and if necessary stand down from his current positions.

I do not think celibacy is the key issue that brought about these scandals in that people do not commit these offences just because they are celibate. Some argue though that an all male celibate culture in a closed hierarchical environment has led to a lack of insight into the problem and hence poor responses. I will set up an enquiry to examine ways the Church can be more inclusive of laypeople, especially women, in its government and committees.

Elsewhere in this letter I invited you to devote your Friday penances for a period of one year between now and Easter 2011, to this issue. I asked you to offer up your fasting, your prayer, your reading of Scripture and your works of mercy in order to obtain the grace of healing and renewal for the Church in Ireland . I encouraged you to discover anew the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to avail yourselves more frequently of the transforming power of its grace. I also urged that particular attention should be given to Eucharistic adoration

I and my staff will do likewise. I am confident that this programme will lead to a rebirth not only of the Church in Ireland but the whole Church in the fullness of God's own truth, for the truth will set us free.

Benedict