Surprised Jesuit

Father Jim Martin, a Jesuit who has been our analyst this week on the air and who is the Associate Editor of America Magazine, a church publication, has been surprised the Pope has tackled so directly the biggest controversy facing the church.

But he acknowledges that, even in his directness, the Pope is likely ticking off both victims and arch conservatives within the church who cringe at the public mea culpa.

I would hardly pretend to be an expert on religion expert, and certainly not very knowledgeable about Catholicism, but it's not surprising to me the Pope addressed the sex abuse scandal. If his political goals for his organization are to create a stronger if smaller cadre of Catholics, more fervent with fewer internal polemics -- then solving this crisis is imperative for this 81-year-old Pope during his tenure. And it has been a crisis --

$2 billion in lawsuit settlements to thousands of victims; and it's no coincidence that while that money has been doled out, parishes and Catholic-run schools have closed.

So, as not just the spiritual head of the church but also as the CEO, it's smart business to get all this behind, and move on -- financially and, in the vernacular of the Church, spiritually. How many more times will he address the scandal? And will he end up meeting with the victims? That would send a huge signal as well

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