According to some media reports, a Catholic priest in Massachusetts has used his pulpit to call for Pope Benedict XVI to step down.

The Boston Globe reported on Monday that the Rev. James Scahill of St. Michael's Parish in East Longmeadow said during his sermon Sunday the pontiff has not been truthful about the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the church in the past several years. Scahill called for more protection of children and greater accountability by the church hierarchy.

Scahill told the Globe in a phone interview, "If we cannot get a pope that's going to give us the truth, then our church is dead. Any who deny the truth deny Christ, and we, as people, must reclaim our church. Those in authority must be willing to admit to the truth, admit their horrific crime of cover-up, and beg for forgiveness, and until that happens, there will be no healing.''

Benedict has come under fire for the way cases of abuse by priests were handled when he was an archbishop before becoming pope.

The information that has been brought to light dictates the pope should resign, Scahill said.

The congregation has generally been supportive of Scahill's sermon, said Parish Council President Thomas LaMondia.

LaMondia further said, "I thought he did a really nice job of explaining that it's really about the protection of children. The church really needs to look at what they need to do to hold people accountable.''

Mark Dupont, a spokesman for the Diocese of Springfield, called Scahill's statements "unfortunate."

Dupont said, "It in no way represents the position of the bishop.'' (With Inputs from Agencies)