
Jessica Yellin continued CNN's biased coverage towards Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church, and the sex abuse scandal on Friday's Campbell Brown program. After replaying a report from Tuesday on one dissenting priest's call for the Pope's resignation, Yellin misleadingly asked, "
Why is he [the Pope]
having such a hard time saying he's sorry?" She also brought on two liberals to discuss the scandal.
Before the replay of correspondent
Mary Snow's report on Father James Scahill's public call for Benedict XVI's resignation at 26 minutes into the 8 pm Eastern hour, Yellin, who was filling-in for anchor Campbell Brown, noted that "just yesterday, in a rare reference to the scandal, the Pope called for penitence for the Church's sins. But for some, penitence is not enough." After Snow's report, the substitute anchor read a promo for the upcoming segment, which included the "why is he having such a hard time saying he's sorry" claim.
That is an irresponsible question on the part of Yellin. Just under a month ago, the Pope did make such an apology in
his pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland, directly addressing the victims of the abuse: "You have suffered grievously and
I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured....It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the Church.
In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel." Two years ago, in April 2008, he
met with some of the victims of abuse during his visit to the U.S., and
addressed the scandal during a homily in New York City. Later that year, he
apologized again, this time for the sex abuse in Australia while he visited that country.