Pope Benedict XVI's unprecedented letter to Ireland apologizing for chronic child abuse within the Catholic Church failed March 20 to calm the anger of many victims, who accused the Vatican of ducking its responsibility in promoting a worldwide culture of coverup.

Benedict's message — the product of weeks of consultation with Irish bishops, who read it aloud at Masses across the predominantly Catholic nation — rebuked Ireland's church leaders for "grave errors of judgment" in failing to observe the church's secretive canon laws.

The pope suggested that child-abusing priests could have been expelled quickly had Irish bishops applied the church's laws correctly. He pledged a church inspection of unspecified dioceses and orders in Ireland to ensure their child-protection policies were effective.