Pope Plans Visit to Philadelphia

By Susan Matthews
The Catholics4change
June 3, 2012

http://catholics4change.com/2012/06/03/pope-plans-visit-to-philadelphia/

The Pope has chosen Philadelphia as the site for the World Meeting of Families in 2015. Archbishop Chaput called this "a gift to Philadelphia." Where's the receipt? I'd like to exchange it for one that includes enforced policies on clergy child sex abuse.

As a Catholic mother, I know how important moral leadership is to families. Sadly, I can't look to the vatican for it. The hierarchy has rendered itself irrelevant with misplaced priorities. They lost all credibility on the subject of family when child rape wasn't appropriately addressed here in Philadelphia and elsewhere around the world.

Is this belated pep rally supposed to appease Philadelphia Catholics? Will the Pope meet with the families of the victims left in the wake of Cardinal Bevilacqua's cover up. Will he help their families recover?

As a child, I was among the million Catholics lining the parkway for Pope John Paul's visit in 1979. My father propped me up on a mailbox. The sea of people was a sight to behold – one huge Catholic family. I was proud to be a part of it then and I will fight for it now. But there will be one less Catholic there to greet Pope Benedict in 2015.

Click here to read: "Pope to visit Philadelphia in 2015," by Diane Mastrull, The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 3, 2012