Cuba church leader complains of sensationalism in U.S. media reporting of church sex abuse scandals

HAVANA - A well-known priest in Cuba's Roman Catholic Church attacked the U.S. media Tuesday for its "sensational" reporting of the sex abuse scandals in the United States.

In the Cuban church's first official response to the scandals haunting America's Roman Catholic leadership, Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, vicar general of Havana, complained of the "aggressive and sensationalistic presentation" of alleged sex abuse by U.S. priests.

Cespedes is well-known both as a voice in the church and as a descendent of Cuban independence hero Carlos Manuel de Cespedes.

"No medium has dared to use the same kind of vitriol in dealing with other religious groups, professional groups, or the institution of the family," Cespedes wrote in the Cuban church publication Nueva Palabra — The New Word. "So why the Catholic Church?"

"It is also good to clarify that the United States of America is not exclusive to this type of problem, and of sexual crimes by priests generally," Cespedes wrote.

"Unfortunately, similar cases can occur and have occurred almost everywhere, even in our country," said Cespedes. He offered no details on similar cases in Cuba.

The prelate also expressed his support of Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, who has become a lightning rod for criticism since March when he gave prosecutors the names of at least 80 priests accused of sexually abusing minors.

Pope John Paul II in April summoned U.S. cardinals to the Vatican to discuss the sex scandals. He condemned sexual abuse by priests as criminal, and said there is no room in the priesthood for those who engage in such behavior.