WSJ: Catholics launch global PR campaign to tackle abuse scandal

In Crisis, Catholics' Response Is Ad Hoc

ROME—Pope Benedict XVI addressed a general audience here Wednesday that included a phalanx of priests and church officials who had gathered here to hone their response to the Roman Catholic Church's burgeoning sex-abuse crisis.


"I salute those participating in the communications conference," the pope said amid his standard greetings to pilgrim groups from around the world.

The pope arriving Wednesday at a general audience in St. Peter's Square attended by church spokespeople seeking guidance on responding to crisis.

His brief message to more than 100 church spokespeople underscored a divide that has appeared in recent months: Amid allegations of priestly abuse, often sexual and against minors, the pope has rarely engaged directly in the church's struggle to respond publicly. That has left priests, bishops and officials world-wide grappling with how to formulate their own response .... (more)