Pope condemns reported sex abuse by priests in Pennsylvania
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- The Vatican has called the sex abuse described in a grand jury report in Pennsylvania "criminal and morally reprehensible."
MORE: Pennsylvania priests molested over 1,000 children, per report | Key dates in the Pennsylvania church abuse scandal | Oral sex, then holy water: Report documents abuse by priests
In a statement released late Thursday, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said "those acts were betrayals of trust that robbed survivors of their dignity and faith."
He said that victims should know that Pope Francis is on their side.