VETICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI today rebuked Irish bishops for “grave errors of judgment” in handling clerical sex abuse and ordered an investigation into the Irish church but did not mention any Vatican responsibility.

In a letter to the Irish faithful read across Europe amid a growing, multination abuse scandal, the pope doled out no specific punishments to bishops blamed by victims, and Irish government-ordered investigations, for having covered up abuse of thousands of Irish children from the 1930s to the 1990s.

Ireland’s main group of clerical-abuse victims, One in Four, said it was deeply disappointed by the letter because it failed to lay blame with the Vatican for what it called a “deliberate policy of the Catholic Church at the highest levels to protect sex offenders, thereby endangering children.” “If the church cannot acknowledge this fundamental truth, it is still in denial,” the group said.

The letter directly addressed only Ireland, but the Vatican said it could be read as applying to other countries. Hundreds of new allegations of abuse have recently come to light across Europe, including in the pope’s native Germany, where he served as archbishop in a diocese where several victims have recently come forward. One priest suspected of molesting boys while the future pope was in charge was transferred to a job where he abused more children. While a cardinal at the Vatican, Joseph Ratzinger penned a letter instructing bishops around the world to report all cases of abuse to his office and keep them secret under threat of excommunication.

Irish bishops have said the letter was widely understood to mean they shouldn’t report the cases to police.

“You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry,” Benedict said, addressing himself to Irish Catholics who suffered “sinful and criminal” abuse at the hands of priests, brothers and nuns and a botched response by their superiors.

“It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the church,” he said. “In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel.” Benedict used his harshest words for the abusers themselves, saying they had betrayed the trust of the faithful, brought shame on the church and now must answer before God and civil authorities.

“Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God’s mercy.” Benedict faulted their superiors, the Irish bishops, for having failed to apply the church’s own law which calls for harsh punishments for child abusers, including defrocking priests.