Priest Thanks Pope for Stand Against Pedophilia

To the Pope -- to this Pope -- who is doing so much to fight against pedophilia in the clergy and to defend children, I say: We are with you. Go forth with strength for the little ones.

AVOLA, Italy (Zenit.org) - Father Fortunato Di Noto, founder of the Meter Association that helped U.S. and Italian authorities uncover 100 online pedophile communities earlier this year, is thanking Benedict XVI for his strong stand against pedophilia.

The Pope met last week with Cardinal Sean Brady, president of the Irish episcopal conference, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, to discuss the Murphy Commission Report, which details abuse cases in the Dublin Archdiocese from 1975 to 2004.

A Vatican communiqué reported that the Holy Father expressed his "outrage, betrayal and shame" over the scandal of abuse by clergy.

Father Di Noto praised the Holy Father's reaction, and affirmed that his organization is "available to help the Irish bishops."

"All sexual abuse of children is tragic -- it is an enormous sin," he said. In the case of a priest-perpetrators, Father Di Noto said, "It should never have happened."

"To the Pope -- to this Pope -- who is doing so much to fight against pedophilia in the clergy and to defend children, I say: We are with you. Go forth with strength for the little ones."

Father Di Noto, a native of Sicily, has worked over the last 15 years to secure 1,064 charges against pedophiles and worked some 780 cases.

"Meter," he noted, "has undertaken important International investigations and has given hope to many children."