NEW YORK (NY)
America Magazine
February 5, 2019
By Michael J. O’Loughlin
Catholics attending Mass in the Archdiocese of Chicago this weekend heard a recorded message from Cardinal Blase Cupich, updating them on a meeting to be held at the Vatican later this month that is expected to address clergy sexual abuse. The cardinal also apologized to the faithful who have been let down by some of its leaders.
“I know how hard these past few months have been for you,” said the cardinal, who is helping to plan the Feb. 21-24 meeting. “I understand the anger and disappointment many feel as the church suffers from the scandal of clergy sexual abuse, and the mishandling by some church leaders.”
Cardinal Cupich: “I understand the anger and disappointment many feel.”
In September, following months of revelations about the ongoing sexual abuse crisis in the United States and elsewhere, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had summoned the heads of bishops’ conferences in 130 countries to the Vatican for this month’s meeting.
The pope has urged caution from those who hope the meeting will yield new policies and protocols related to preventing abuse. But expectations for the meeting have been heightened, in part by church officials who have long pushed for church leaders to take abuse more seriously.
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