PALM SPRINGS (CA)
Palm Springs Desert Sun
October 14, 2018
By Corinne S Kennedy
The first Sunday after church officials in Riverside and San Bernardino counties published a list of priests accused of sexually abusing children, Catholics across the Coachella Valley attended Mass and heard from their spiritual leaders about the church’s response to the abuse and how the faith community should move forward.
At Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert, Monsignor Howard Lincoln told churchgoers that one of the priests credibly accused of sexual abuse, Peter McCormick, had served at the desert parish. Lincoln said the Diocese of San Bernardino, which consists of the two counties, had published the names of the priests — and what action was taken after the accusations — to be more “open,” “honest” and transparent.
He said Bishop Gerald Richard Barnes wanted to encourage anyone who had been abused by a priest to alert authorities.
“It is our hope, that for people who experienced this, even in another state, even 50 years ago, if you are still suffering, please come forward,” Lincoln said.
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