Sex abuse victims in Ireland scorn pope’s pledge to purge church

DUBLIN — Pope Francis arrived in Ireland to a lukewarm reception Saturday and scattered protests, with even his vow to rid the church of the “scourge” of sexual abuse and his outrage at the “repugnant crimes” dismissed as an insult by Ireland’s wounded abuse victims.

The abuse scandal — which has convulsed Ireland since the 1990s and has exploded anew in the U.S. — took center stage on Francis’ first day of a two-day trip to Ireland. The visit was originally intended to celebrate Catholic families but has been overshadowed by the renewed abuse crisis.

Francis sought to respond to the outcry during a speech to Irish government authorities at Dublin Castle.