Paedophile priests must own up to their sins, says Vatican

Catholic clergy who have sinned by their acts or by turning a blind eye in Ireland's paedophile priests scandal must admit blame for their "abominable acts", a senior Vatican official said yesterday.

"Yes, storms spark fear, even those that rock the boat of the Church because of the sins of its members," said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, in a sermon delivered to Ireland's bishops inside St Peter's Basilica shortly before they began two days of crisis talks with the Pope.

iBy Richard Owen in Rome)