Pope Francis ' blind spot on sexual abuse . 
Pope Francis
Francis ' advisers were correct ; the bishop should have taken a sabbatical . 
Pope Francis talks with Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley , left , as they arrive for a consistory at the Vatican on Feb. 13 , 2015 . 
The overwhelming consensus in the media is that Pope Francis has a blind spot when it comes to sexual abuse . 
Pope Francis needs to make dramatic changes in the way in which the Vatican investigates crimes , especially those by bishops . 
One of the few journalists to come to Francis ' defense is Austen Ivereigh , contributing editor at Crux and author of one of the best biographies of Francis . 
"I ca n't condemn him because I do n't have evidence ," Francis said . 
In a leaked letter to the Chilean bishops , Francis defended his January 2015 appointment of Barros to Osorno . 
Francis acknowledged that the Vatican was so concerned about the crisis in Chile that it planned to ask Barros , who was the bishop for the military , and two other bishops to resign and take a sabbatical . 
Despite these concerns , Francis appointed Barros anyway . 
Francis ' defense of Barros has been excessive , accusing his detractors of calumny and being leftist agitators . 
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors recommended that Francis set up a separate office in the Vatican to deal with bishops who fail to do their job protecting children . 
"It is understandable that Pope Francis ' statements yesterday in Santiago , Chile , were a source of great pain for survivors of sexual abuse by clergy or any other perpetrator . 
Francis is not helping by throwing around accusations of slander and calumny . 
Francis accepted O'Malley 's criticism and apologized for saying the victims need to show "proof" to be believed .
Francis ' advisers were correct ; the bishop should have taken a sabbatical . 
[TGT] , left , as [TGT] arrive for a consistory at the Vatican on Feb. 13 , 2015 . 
The overwhelming consensus in the media is that Pope Francis has a blind spot when it comes to sexual abuse . 
Pope Francis needs to make dramatic changes in the way in which the Vatican investigates crimes , especially those by bishops . 
One of the few journalists to come to Francis ' defense is Austen Ivereigh , contributing editor at Crux and author of one of the best biographies of Francis . 
"I ca n't condemn him because I do n't have evidence ," Francis said . 
In a leaked letter to the Chilean bishops , Francis defended his January 2015 appointment of Barros to Osorno . 
Francis acknowledged that the Vatican was so concerned about the crisis in Chile that it planned to ask Barros , who was the bishop for the military , and two other bishops to resign and take a sabbatical . 
Despite these concerns , Francis appointed Barros anyway . 
Francis ' defense of Barros has been excessive , accusing his detractors of calumny and being leftist agitators . 
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors recommended that Francis set up a separate office in the Vatican to deal with bishops who fail to do their job protecting children . 
"It is understandable that Pope Francis ' statements yesterday in Santiago , Chile , were a source of great pain for survivors of sexual abuse by clergy or any other perpetrator . 
Francis is not helping by throwing around accusations of slander and calumny . 
Francis accepted O'Malley 's criticism and apologized for saying the victims need to show "proof" to be believed .