As Canadian Cardinal Marc Oullet heads to Rome to head up the Congregation for Bishops — arguably one of the most important Vatican offices to renewing the Church after the clerical sex abuse scandal — he's pledging transparency and an approach that offers greater recognition to the harm done to abuse victims.

Here's the salient section from a television interview he did with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:

HEATHER HISCOX (REPORTER): You said in accepting [the Vatican position], one of the things that you are quoted as saying: "I will help the bishops be good bishops." What do you mean by that?

CARDINAL MARC OUELLET: There is the need to address the difficult situations in the Church, in a diocese there might be a crisis between the bishop and his priests, or something else ... a case of abuse.

HEATHER HISCOX (REPORTER): How do you plan to deal with that?

CARDINAL MARC OUELLET: This is a very important question. And I think Pope Benedict has begun to address the situation with firmness, with rigor so the Church has certainly to go forward with transparency and also with a new awareness of the damage that was done to the victims. So this is a big challenge for the Church today. I mean, I feel ...

HEATHER HISCOX (REPORTER): It's enormous, people want to make sure it never happens again.

CARDINAL MARC OUELLET: Yes, exactly. Because the problem is a very serious problem. And the fact that the clergy itself has been sort of under attack on this side of its ministry, it is a signal that the problem is much broader in society also. But the reform has to begin within those who have the greatest responsibility in helping others, to grow in holiness, to grow in the response to their call.

(h/t Deborah Gyapong)

The cardinal's words are in synch with Pope Benedict's plan for renewal, and that mindset is likely one reason the pope tapped him for his new job, advising the pope on the selection of new bishops around the world.

Here's a Rome Reports video on his appointment: