Pope urges openness among bishops in sex-abuse scandal

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II discussed the U.S. sex-abuse scandal with Cardinal Justin Rigali and other American bishops Saturday, encouraging them to be more open to the needs of parishioners in the wake of a "crisis of confidence in the church's leadership."

John Paul noted that Roman Catholic bishops had "an unequivocal right and duty of governance." But he indicated that the approach of some American church leaders may have driven a wedge between them and churchgoers.

This from the St. Louis Post Dispatch...

And this is the actual text of the Holy Father's address to the Bishops.