Pope's defence of response to U.S. church abuse scandals called 'distressing'

Scandals have rocked 5 dioceses since turn of this century.  Pope Francis praised American bishops on Wednesday for their "generous commitment" to helping victims of clergy sex abuse, drawing an angry rebuke from advocates who said the bishops acted only under the threat of hundreds of lawsuits.
Addressing church leaders in a prayer service at the Washington cathedral, Francis said they had faced the crisis "without fear of self-criticism and at the cost of mortification and great sacrifice."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pope-us-sex-abuse-scandals-1.3241217