It was bad enough that priests were able to molest children, in some cases for many years, but the revelation that senior clerics tried to cover up the problem has also caused great damage to the image of the Church.
"This move is in accord with the Pope's oft-repeated image of the Church as a 'field hospital' that goes out to meet people where they are most in need, and then to treat their most serious wounds first -- rather than stay at home and wait for people to come to them, " said the Rev.
Reddit is only one place on the internet, but for this traditionally atheist bastion of internet memeism to praise one of its traditional enemies signifies that Pope Francis is already enjoying some success changing the image of the Catholic Church.
FORBES: 'Good Guy Pope' Meme on Reddit is a Win for Pope Francis
If she really wants to change the party in her own image, she'll need to work very hard from within to remake this notoriously broad church in her own image.
The new pope is also regarded as a bridge builder who may bring an image of humility to a church beset by scandal.
The Ferns case has triggered fresh claims of clerical sex abuse incidents and a flood of anger in overwhelmingly Catholic Ireland, where the church's image has been severely damaged by a string of scandals in the last decade.
The Ferns case has triggered fresh claims of clerical sex abuse incidents and a flood of anger in overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Ireland, where the Church's image has been severely damaged by a string of scandals in the last decade.
The most symbolic image is the tiny East Jerusalem Baptist Church.
But the Right Reverend John Davies told the congregation at St Thomas' church in the town that the image of Rhyl as a troubled area was unwarranted.
The silly sight has taken flight as tourists from around the US have been stopping by the church for a chance to capture the odd image on camera.
Meanwhile, the Spanish daily El Mundo says Benedict will be remembered as "God's sweeper" - the man who tried to resolve the "numerous problems of the Church that did so much harm to its image".
"We are deliberately trying to drop the old Sunday school image because it sends out the wrong message, " says Diana Murrie, the Church of England's National Children's Officer.
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