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| HE Polycarp Cardinal Pengo |
His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo has warned Priests that there will be no Tolerance on issues of Child Sex Abuse in the Catholic Church.
Speaking in the island of Mafia during the pilgrimage of Holy Childhood of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam held in Mafia Parish, Cardinal Pengo, who is the archbishop of Dar es Salaam said that the Catholic Church was merciful to so many transgressions of priests but on Child sex abuse, the church will be intolerant.
He said children, since their baptism, have received an indelible mark which is a symbol of witness to other people.
Cardinal Pengo also reiterated that the issue of Child sex abuse is not limited to clergy and religious alone. “There have been so many unreported cases of child sex abuse committed by parents or other family members; cases of defilement committed by parents or grandparents,” he said adding that “These cases are concealed by society as if they are ordinary conducts.”
He said that all these cases of Child sex abuse should be condemned and must be severely punished regardless of who commits the offence.
He asked the children to build the missionary spirit and support church activities through prayers and their contribution when needed.
The PMS children also congratulated him for celebrating 70th birthday; 30 years of Episcopate and prayed for his good health.
Cardinal Pengo said that he was grateful to God for giving him another opportunity to meet them.
A total of 336 children participated in the pilgrimage which started from October 2 to 6. 85 formators, 7 religious and 6 priests accompanied the children in the pilgrimage. During their pilgrimage children also organized fundraising activities from their fellow children that aimed at collecting funds to build a shrine for pilgrimage for children which will be the first one in Africa.
SOURCE: Liberatha Ruhikula, Kiongozi Newspaper TEC Communications Department