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	Forgive Us Our Sins A Roman Catholic Church Dedicates a Mass to Clergy Abuse Victims By Mike Newall City Paper [Philadelphia PA] November 3, 2005 It is the final Sunday in October, nearly six weeks since the District Attorney's office released its scathing report detailing how the Archdiocese of Philadelphia covered up four decades of sexual abuse and repeatedly protected pedophiles at the expense of children. In a recent missive to his flock, Cardinal Justin Rigali called on all area Catholics to come together to pray for the healing of victims and for the church itself. Here at Old St. Mary's in Society Hill, morning sunlight streaks through the stained glass windows and across the wooden pews, illuminating the polished marble altar in a pool of white. The organist begins to play, the congregation stands and the Rev. Dominic Chiaravalle leads the entrance procession. "The Cardinal has called for prayer and reparation," says Father Dom on the altar. "In the face of this current scandal, there must be more than prayer, there must be a firm commitment toward reform and renewal." The pews are filled with roughly 100 worshipers, including representatives of four Catholic reform groups: The Association for The Rights of Catholics in the Church, Call to Action, Voice of the Faithful and Catholics Organized for Renewal. They are working toward more transparency and accountability in the church hierarchy, fuller lay participation in church leadership and justice for victims. They will hold a vigil this Saturday outside the Cardinal's City Line Avenue residence, calling on him to support a change in the statue of limitations in cases of child sexual abuse. None of the groups are based out of Old St. Mary's. Father Dom invited them to this Mass. A mild-mannered man with graying black hair, Father Dom describes himself as a son of "Vatican II," referring to the Council of Bishops called by Pope XXIII in 1962, which promised many church reforms -- some of which have faltered -- including an increased role for the laity. "My 40 years as a parish priest," he says, "have taught me that the true church is found in the people, in the pews." Like many local priests, Father Dom was disappointed by the archdiocese's initial dismissive response to the report. "Some spokesman has claimed that the grand jury report and the news media's coverage amounts to an anti-Catholic attack on the church," he said from the pulpit on the Sunday after the report's release. "The real cause of damage to the church has not been the truth-tellers, but the illegal and immoral actions of sexual abusers and the cover-up, the inadequate, less than aggressive, corrective response of diocesan leaders to these incidents. Their damage has been to the church, to our Catholic faith, to the majority of priests who serve faithfully, and of course, to the victims." The homily was so well received that parishioners requested it be printed in next week's parish bulletin. Father Dom did not plan this Mass to correspond with any specific date or Gospel reading; it was hard enough getting everyone together on the same Sunday. When Father Dom sat down to familiarize himself with today's Bible readings, he was shocked by their relevance. They are providential, he said to himself, a visit from God. The first reading is from the Book of the Prophet of Malachi: "And now, O priests, this commandment is for you: If you do not listen, if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. You have turned aside from the way. … I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all people." Then, the Gospel passage from the Book of Matthew, in which Jesus admonishes the temple priests for their lavishness and hypocrisy: "Observe all things they tell you," said Jesus, "but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. … They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' "But remember," warned Jesus, "whoever exalts himself will be humbled." In his homily discussion, Father Dom calls for civil and criminal justice for the victims, true lay participation and an honest and open church hierarchy. What would Jesus say about the actions of some of today's church leaders, he asks. Many in the pews nod their heads. One woman rocks in her seat and prays aloud throughout the entire Mass. "Oh my dear God in heaven, protect us and forgive us for our sins." Father ends his remarks on a hopeful note. "Let us not lessen our resolve," he says. "Let us always be people of faith seeking to do the will of God." Next, the petitions are read. "For all of those who have had their faith shattered by the current scandal," reads the petitioner, "that they may be able to find peace and reconciliation with God." "Let us pray," replies the congregation. The church falls silent for a moment and then a baby begins to cry.
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