MASSACHUSETTS
MassLive

[the pastoral letter]

By Dan Glaun | dglaun@masslive.com
on February 10, 2016

SPRINGFIELD – As the world’s Catholics prepare for Lent’s 40 days of spiritual repentance, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is issuing its own message of apology and renewal – to current and lapsed Catholics, to parishioners wounded by church closures, to victims of sexual abuse by priests and to LGBT Catholics alienated by the Church’s stance on gay rights.

In his pastoral letter issued on Ash Wednesday, the Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski wrote that the church, inspired by the approachable tenor of Pope Francis’ approach to the papacy, is rededicating itself to evangelism – including the welcoming-back of Catholics who no longer feel represented by the Church.

“As the Diocese of Springfield, we must acknowledge this need for mercy, and ask forgiveness of God and each other for past sins and…