Pope told to apologise to Catholic abuse victims before Scotland visit

THE Pope must say sorry to child abuse survivors before he visits Scotland, a leading campaigner has demanded.

Benedict XVI earlier this month apologised to those hurt in Catholic children's homes in Ireland, saying he shared public "outrage and shame" over the scandal.

Now Helen Holland, an abuse survivor and former nun, has written to the pontiff asking him to do the same for those who suffered in Scotland ahead of his September papal visit.

The 51-year-old, a leading figure in several survivors' groups, accused church authorities in Scotland of continuing to fail to acknowledge the harm done to generations of children.

She told the Pope: "I know you have apologised to other countries where citizens suffered abuse within the church, but in Scotland the attitude of the church to date has been one of denial and indeed blaming the actual survivors of abuse.

"It is not acceptable for abusers or institutions to be allowed to hide behind either the collar or indeed the habit.

"I, as a child baptised into the Catholic Church, beseech you to address the pain still suffered by adult survivors.

"I ask you to lead by example and apologise to the survivors of abuse in Scotland in the same way you have done in other countries.

"It is never too late for the healing process to begin. I believe God's love and compassion can break down even the strongest barriers."

Holland has described years of serious sexual and physical abuse at a children's home, Nazareth House in Kilmarnock, run by nuns and priests. For the past decade she has waived her right to anonymity as she worked for support and campaigning groups for fellow victims, including the Scottish-Government-backed Survivors Scotland.

Scottish bishops cannot formally answer for the actions or behaviour of individuals and international Catholic Orders.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Edinburgh has apologised "unreservedly" to abuse victims.

But Holland, still a devout Christian, and other campaigners want to see a change of heart on the issue right through the church and its various orders.

Nobody at the Vatican was available for comment.

However, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Glasgow said: "The Church in Scotland has been at the forefront of child protection practice and has a robust policy in place across every parish and Church institution in the country to prevent the sexual abuse of children, which, as the Pope recently stated, is an abominable crime."