Progress?

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From the Australian quoting The Times, May 14, 2010:

The Vatican said 500,000 people flocked to the giant mass with the pontiff in what the church said was a massive show of support for his handling of the pedophile priest crisis.

The Fatima sanctuary's huge esplanade was full to overflowing on Thursday night (AEST) and church organisers said the crowd gathered for the outdoor mass was bigger than that which joined Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, in 2000.

The turnout was vibrant proof the pedophilia scandal shaking the church had not "weakened" the Pope's position, said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.

(More like the Church just pulled off an amazing coup, like Teflon, its felonies never stick:)

More from Australian:

A rock festival atmosphere unfolded ahead of his arrival for mass as flags flew, pilgrims climbed on statues of saints to get a view and the obligatory queues formed for toilets.

"I have come to Fatima to pray, in union with Mary and so many pilgrims, for our human family, afflicted as it is by various ills and sufferings," Benedict declared in his homily at the Thursday mass.

His church has been engulfed in sex abuse scandals amid allegations the Vatican had wilfully protected pedophile priests from prosecution in several European countries and the US.

"People need something that gives them hope. There are many problems in the world and it is not surprising that there are so many people here," said pilgrim Maria Caldeira, 66.

Whole Story

(Gotta get back to work)