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A Roman Catholic diocese in Sicily has publicly apologised to outraged parents after its bishop told a group of children that Santa Claus doesn’t exist. Recent popes have become quite adept at apologising, usually without addressing the systemic problems in the church which made the apologies necessary.

In 1992, the pope apologised for deeming Galileo a heretic in 1633. In 1993, for the church’s role in the African slave trade. In 1995, for the oppression of women. In 1998, for the church’s silence and inaction during the Holocaust. In 2000, for the crusaders’ attack on Constantinople in 1204. In 2001, for the sexual abuse of children, the “stolen generation” of Australian aboriginal children, and missionary conduct in China. In 2010, a second apology for sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. In 2014, for the repression of Pentecostals under Italian fascism. 2015, to the indigenous people of the Americas for the church’s role in colonialism. 2015, a third time, for the clerical abuse of children. In 2016, to refugees for some Catholics’ indifference and closed-mindedness, and for the church’s persecution of gay people.

Pic licenced yesterday...