VOA慢速英语--教皇关于辞职的呼吁‘我不会说一个字

Pope About Call for Resignation: “I Will Not Say a Single Word”

Pope Francis said Sunday that he had read the letter from a former Vatican official that calls for the Roman Catholic Church leader’s resignation. However, the Pope told reporters he would not say a single word about the letter’s contents. He said the letter “speaks for itself.”

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano wrote the 11-page document and had released it to Catholic media groups earlier in the day Sunday.

In the letter, Vigano accuses Pope Francis of having known for years about sex abuse reports involving former Cardinal¹ Theodore McCarrick of the United States.

Last month, the Pope accepted McCarrick’s resignation following the release of evidence that he had abused a child. It was the first resignation of a Cardinal in connection with sex abuse claims.

Vigano wrote that the Pope “must acknowledge his mistakes.” He also said Francis should resign to honor the Church’s policy of rejecting abuse or hiding of abuse.

Vigano served as the Vatican Ambassador to the United States from 2006 to 2011. He said he told Francis about the accusations³ against McCarrick in June 2013.

Vigano wrote that the current Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, also received information from the Vatican about McCarrick. Wuerl’s spokesman denied the accusation².

The letter was released during the Pope’s two-day trip to Ireland. Pope Francis opened a service Sunday in Dublin by asking for forgiveness for the “scandal and betrayal” felt by victims of sex abuse by Catholic clergy⁴.

Organizers had been expecting a crowd of 500,000 people, but only about 200,000 gathered. Among them were protesters of the Catholic Church. Demonstrator Maggie Lawler expressed dissatisfaction with the Pope’s message.

“Apologies don't really go far enough. There needs to be accountability. People need to answer questions, they need to stand up, be responsible for their actions.”

Protester Elaine Murphy agreed with Lawler. She described Francis’ apology Sunday as “empty.”

The Pope also met privately⁵ in Ireland with a group of abuse victims.

I’m Caty Weaver⁶.

Words in This Story

acknowledge - v. to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something)

scandal - n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong

1 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

2 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

3 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

4 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

5 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

6 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。