LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pope Benedict's representative in the United States on Thursday urged Catholic bishops to transform the reputation of a church still tarnished by the nationwide paedophile priest scandal.
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the new apostolic nuncio, or papal ambassador, to the United States, told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops he was saddened that the church was best known for a scandal involving abusive priests and complicit bishops. But he did not suggest specific ways to improve the church's image.