BBC: Pope Benedict XVI has said he is "deeply ashamed" of sexual abuse by clergy in the US Catholic Church.
The Pope vowed to work to prevent paedophiles from becoming priests as he flew to Washington at the beginning of his first visit to the US as pontiff.
In recent years, the US Catholic Church has paid $2bn (£1bn) to settle clergy sexual abuse cases.
US President George W Bush made the unusual gesture of greeting the Pope on his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base.
During his trip, the Pope will address the UN, celebrate two masses, pray at Ground Zero and visit a synagogue.
The Pope told reporters on board the flight to Washington: "We will absolutely exclude paedophiles from the sacred ministry." Pope ‘Ashamed’ of US Clergy Abuse >>>
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The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback - UK)
