VOA标准英语2010年-Pope Apoligizes for 'Generations' of S

Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during his weekly general audience at St. Peter's square at The Vatican, 17 Mar¹ 2010

Pope Benedict has written to Catholics in Ireland to apologize for the sexual abuses carried out by the clergy² in that country over the past decades. He ordered an investigation³ into the Irish church but stopped short of admitting any Vatican responsibility. Irish victims of the abuses said they are deeply disappointed with the letter.

It's the first letter by a pope that deals entirely⁴ with pedophilia. Pope Benedict's 7-page missive is addressed to the Catholics of Ireland - specifically to the victims of child abuse, to their parents, to the priests, brothers and nuns⁵ who were involved in the abuses and to the church leadership in Ireland.

Pope Benedict said he feels shame and remorse⁶ for what the victims of the abuse have endured. He acknowledged the sense of betrayal they have suffered and recognized that in many cases no one listened to them when they finally found the courage to speak out.  And he asked the victims not to lose hope.

Primate⁷ of All Ireland Cardinal⁸ Sean Brady reads out a letter from the pope to worshippers at St Patrick's Cathedral Armagh, Northern Ireland, 20 Mar 2010

The head of the Irish Church, Cardinal Sean Brady, who himself has come under fire with accusations⁹ of failing to do enough, read the pope's letter out Saturday in church in Armagh, Northern Ireland.

"It is evident from the pastoral letter that Pope Benedict is deeply dismayed by what he refers to as sinful and criminal acts at the way the church authorities in Ireland dealt with them," he said.

In the letter Pope Benedict said many church leaders committed grave errors by failing to respond to allegations of child sex abuse by priests. He said serious mistakes were made and this has led to a loss of credibility of the church.

Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi said the pope uses very strong language against those who are guilty of the abuses and who must answer for their sinful and criminal acts before God and before tribunals.

The pope announced there would be a formal Vatican investigation of Irish dioceses, seminaries and religious orders. He also said he was willing to meet the victims to acknowledge their suffering personally.

But Irish victims of the abuses expressed their disappointment.  The Irish clerical-abuse victims group, "One in Four,"  said the letter falls short of addressing concerns of the victims and also criticized the fact the Vatican does not take responsibility for what occurred and that no specific punishment is laid out for the bishops¹⁰ who knew and the priests involved in the abuses.
 

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 nuns   

n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ah Q had always had the greatest contempt for such people as little nuns. 小尼姑之流是阿Q本来视如草芥的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Nuns are under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 修女须立誓保持清贫、贞洁、顺从。 来自辞典例句

6 remorse   

n.痛恨，悔恨，自责

参考例句：

• She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
• He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。

7 primate   

n.灵长类（目）动物，首席主教；adj.首要的

参考例句：

• 14 percent of primate species are highly endangered.14%的灵长类物种处于高度濒危状态。
• The woolly spider monkey is the largest primate in the Americas.绒毛蛛猴是美洲最大的灵长类动物。

8 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

9 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

10 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。