The Pope says to American Bishop’s this afternoon: “Responding to this situation has not been easy and, . . . it was sometimes very badly handled.” The American Bishops’ own report says there are more than 11,000 victims of sexual abuse by priests, and all the Pope can muster is “badly handled?” I’d say it’s British understatement, but he’s German. This is not an acceptance of responsibility. This is not an apology.

He went on: “Benedict addressed clerical molesters in the wider context of secularism and the over-sexualization of America. ‘What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?’ he asked.”

Is this a flat-out “my priests are perverts because you guys watch porn at home?” Or is it even more brazen: “I know that 4% of my priests diddled your little boys and girls, but the fact that you guys watch porn is just as bad. If you stop watching porn, I’ll fire some priests. Do we have a deal?”

I know I’m oversimplifying the Pope’s statements, but the points remain.

1. He has not apologized for the horrible pain that his organization inflicted upon the children of its members.
2. He still has the gall to criticize people’s private and personal choices – choices that didn’t include diddling little boys or girls.

Let the one without sin cast the first stone. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. And people who ride around in plexiglass cages on the back of pickup trucks should say they’re sorry.