Cardinal Rigali urges local Catholics to pray for reparation, renewal

Published: 2005-10-19

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- Two weeks after a grand jury report was released in Philadelphia that accused the archdiocese's previous leaders of covering up sexual abuse of minors by priests, Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali issued a pastoral letter urging archdiocesan Catholics to pray for reparation and renewal. "Our archdiocese has been humbled by sins and failings which have scarred the lives of many young people and have deeply pained and scandalized the faithful," the cardinal wrote Oct. 4. He wrote the pastoral letter while attending the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist in Rome and noted that "it is only in the power of the Eucharist that we will have the strength to make reparation for our sins and failings and to move forward in renewal as followers of Jesus Christ." The cardinal, who celebrated his second anniversary as archbishop of Philadelphia Oct. 7, did not directly mention the Sept. 21 grand jury report in his letter. But the cardinal directly referred to clergy sexual abuse, saying, "this is certainly a time of purification for the Catholic Church in Philadelphia" and a time of reparation for sins and renewal.

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