click to read more (including statements from Pope Francis and Bishop Burbidge)
(Father Tom's message at all parish Masses on Sunday, August 19, 2018)
I would like to address both honestly and clearly – and in a way that I pray respects the presence of families and children here today – our response to the crisis in which we as a Church currently find ourselves. I am certain that the news about Archbishop McCarrick as well as the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report is on the minds of many parishioners as we come together for Mass this Sunday.
I would like to report, first, that Bishop Burbidge has asked all priests to celebrate Mass, pray the Rosary and offer penitential acts for the healing of those who have victims of abuse by clergy in our Church and in reparation for the wrong-doing that has led to the current crisis.
I would also like to assure you that:
Today, I also would like to refer you to a revamped landing page on our diocesan website (ArlingtonDiocese.org/Child-Protection) which provides information and links to:
On behalf of all of the priests serving here at Good Shepherd Church, I assure you of the personal commitment of each one of us to strive daily to be faithful to the commitments we have made never to harm and only to protect and care for the safety and security of the children and young people of our Church.
With you, we support every effort that can be made to promote the healing of victims of abuse, to make amends for the past failings of our leaders to protect the safety of children, and to do all that we can to insure that the wrong-doing and the evil of the past are never repeated in the future.
I would like to address both honestly and clearly – and in a way that I pray respects the presence of families and children here today – our response to the crisis in which we as a Church currently find ourselves. I am certain that the news about Archbishop McCarrick as well as the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report is on the minds of many parishioners as we come together for Mass this Sunday.
I would like to report, first, that Bishop Burbidge has asked all priests to celebrate Mass, pray the Rosary and offer penitential acts for the healing of those who have victims of abuse by clergy in our Church and in reparation for the wrong-doing that has led to the current crisis.
I would also like to assure you that:
- Our diocese immediately reports all allegations of any kind of abuse or neglect of children to appropriate legal authorities.
- No priest or deacon against whom a substantiated claim of abuse has been made is currently serving in active ministry in our diocese.
- Since 2002, every allegation of sexual abuse on the part of clergy has been investigated by our Diocesan Review Board, which from its very beginning has always been comprised of a majority of lay people.
Today, I also would like to refer you to a revamped landing page on our diocesan website (ArlingtonDiocese.org/Child-Protection) which provides information and links to:
- Resources to encourage and support victims in their healing.
- Diocesan policies that have been in place since 2002 to insure the protection of children and that provide a process for handling allegations of sexual abuse on the part of clergy.
- The most recent Vatican and US Bishops Conference statements regarding the grand jury report in Pennsylvania.
- Bishop Burbidge’s public statements and podcasts in which he has addressed these sensitive issues.
On behalf of all of the priests serving here at Good Shepherd Church, I assure you of the personal commitment of each one of us to strive daily to be faithful to the commitments we have made never to harm and only to protect and care for the safety and security of the children and young people of our Church.
With you, we support every effort that can be made to promote the healing of victims of abuse, to make amends for the past failings of our leaders to protect the safety of children, and to do all that we can to insure that the wrong-doing and the evil of the past are never repeated in the future.
click to read more (including statements from Pope Francis and Bishop Burbidge)
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Together, we pray:
For our Church leaders: may the Holy Spirit guide our Pope, Bishops, and clergy to carry out their promise to protect children, youth, and adults and make reparation to those who have been abused. We pray to the Lord … For victims of sexual abuse: we pray for their healing and comfort; justice and peace; and that we may be compassionate to their need. We pray to the Lord … |