Pope Francis has been quoted as saying that
reliable data indicates that “about two per cent”
of clergy in the Catholic Church are paedophiles.
The Pope said abuse of children was like
“leprosy” infecting the Church, according to the
Italian La Repubblica newspaper.
He vowed to “confront it with the severity it
demands”.
But a Vatican spokesman said the quotes in the
newspaper did not correspond to Pope Francis’s
exact words.
The BBC’s David Willey in Rome says there is
often a studied ambiguity in Pope Francis’ off-
the-cuff statements.
He wants to show a more compassionate
attitude towards Church teaching than his
predecessors, but this can sometimes cause
consternation among his media advisers, our
correspondent adds.
In the interview, Pope Francis was quoted as
saying that the 2% estimate came from advisers.
It would represent around 8,000 priests out of a
global number of about 414,000.
While the incidence of paedophilia as a
psychiatric disorder in the general population is
not accurately known, some estimates have put
it at less than five percent.
“Among the 2% who are paedophiles are priests,
bishops and cardinals. Others, more numerous,
know but keep quiet. They punish without giving
the reason,” Pope Francis was quoted as saying.
“I find this state of affairs intolerable,” he went
on.

http://www.punchng.com/news/pope-francis-about-2-of-catholic-clergy-paedophiles/