Detroit cardinal stresses deeper spirituality to heal U.S. church

Published: 2004-05-07

ROME (CNS) -- As the Catholic Church in the United States works to recover from the clerical sex abuse crisis, a deeper spirituality, not a greater democracy, will be the key to healing, said Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit. Nearing the end of his May 2-8 "ad limina" visit to Rome, required of all heads of dioceses every five years, Cardinal Maida said a bishop need only look at Pope John Paul II to figure out how he should approach his ministry. "He is a mystic and totally focused on the Lord and on his ministry of love and service and bringing hope," the cardinal said in a May 7 interview with Catholic News Service. "He's very concerned about those who are suffering, about the young and whether we are preparing them to face cultural challenges solid in their faith, and he's concerned about the bishops and how we are bearing up," the cardinal said.

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