Appeals court acquits French cardinal of sex abuse cover-up – By Nicolas Vaux-Montagny (The Associated Press) / Jan 30 2020
Lyon, France • A French appeals court on Thursday threw out a lower court ruling convicting a French cardinal of covering up the sexual abuse of minors in his flock, a decision culminating a drama that has produced angst for the Roman Catholic Church and reawakened a past of pain and shame for some of the victims seeking justice.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin said he will nevertheless ask Pope Francis to allow him to resign — repeating a request that was refused earlier by the pontiff, who wanted to await the outcome of the appeals trial.
Thursday’s court decision “allows me to turn a page and for the church of Lyon to open a new chapter,” Barbarin said at a brief news conference. He said he would go to Rome “if the Holy Father wants to meet me,” to “renew my request.“
“Today, always, my thoughts go to the victims,” Barbarin added. “With many brothers and sisters, I will continue to pray every day for them and their families.”
For its part, the Vatican said in a statement that it closely followed the case, along with Barbarin’s wish to resign.
Expressing its solidarity with the Lyon church and its “closeness to all victims of abuse,“ the Vatican said that the pope “would make known his decision at the right time.”
The verdict comes at a time of increasing scrutiny around the world of the Catholic Church’s role in hiding abuse by its clergy.
Continue to article: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/01/31/appeals-court-acquits/
