The 1963 letter from the head of a Roman Catholic order recommended the pope remove pedophile priests from active ministry.
Manuel Vega releases documents after a settlement with the Catholic Church. (Video shot by Whitney Blaine)
The letter was sent to Pope Paul VI summarizing Rev. Gerald M.C. Fitzgerald’s thoughts on problem priests after Fitzgerald visited the Vatican in 1963. Fitzgerald headed Servants of the Holy Paracletes.
Los Angeles attorneys for California clergy abuse victims obtained the document during legislation and released it to the public Wednesday. Manuel Vega, a member of SNAP and victim of clergy sexual abuse, says that more documents like this one may be released soon.
Today, a spokesman for the Vatican told the Associated Press that Pope Benedict XVI sees the clerical abuse crisis as a “test for him and the church.” Rev. Federico Lombardi said the pope is holding up well during Holy Week.
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