‘Hand yourself over to human justice’: Pope Francis tells priests guilty of abuse that the church won’t shield them

By Julie Zauzmer December 21 at 8:50 AM

Pope Francis used one of his major annual Christmas speeches to offer some of his strongest words yet on the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church, telling guilty priests that the church won’t protect them and they should turn themselves in.

“To those who abuse minors I would say this: convert and hand yourself over to human justice, and prepare for divine justice,” Francis said in a speech at the Vatican on Friday.

He promised major steps to prevent abuse would emerge from a February summit of bishops -- a renewed commitment for a pope who has been criticized as weak in his response to abuse.

Speaking to the Roman Curia -- the central governing leadership of the Vatican -- Francis described at length the sinfulness of priests who prey on children. “Often behind their boundless amiability, impeccable activity and angelic faces, they shamelessly conceal a vicious wolf ready to devour innocent souls,” he said, in remarks that drew often on the example of the sinful Biblical King David. “Let it be clear that before these abominations the Church will spare no effort to do all that is necessary to bring to justice whosoever has committed such crimes. The Church will never seek to hush up or not take seriously any case.”

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