Vatican praises steps taken to protect children by Irish church

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican said Tuesday that archdioceses in Ireland are making an "excellent" progress in efforts to implement norms to protect children in the wake of decades of pedophile priest scandals.

The Vatican released a summary of findings of its yearlong investigation ordered by Pope Benedict XVI after the uproar over widespread child abuse by priests and allegations of cover-ups by the church.

The Vatican said its investigators saw for themselves "how much the shortcomings of the past" caused an inadequate reaction "not least on the part of various bishops and religious superiors."

It expressed a "great sense of pain and shame" that innocent young people were abused by priests and nuns "while those who should have exercised vigilance often failed to do so effectively."

The report included a number of recommendations to improve the preparation of priests for a life of celibacy and to overcome a loss of trust by lay people in their pastors.

It also found that a large number of priests, nuns and lay people held theological views at odds with church teaching, but it gave no specifics.

"It must be stressed that dissent from the fundamental teachings of the church is not the authentic path toward renewal," the report said.

On a positive note, the investigation found that "this time of trial has also brought to light the continuing vitality of the Irish people's faith."