PENNSYLVANIA
The Times
By Tom Davidson tdavidson@timesonline.com
PITTSBURGH — As the new movie “Spotlight” opens in theaters nationwide, it’s evident the wounds wrought by the Catholic sexual abuse scandal that rocked the American church more than a decade ago remain unhealed.
Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik, an Ambridge native, offered an apology that was published on the front page of the Pittsburgh Catholic, the weekly diocesan newspaper that will be distributed in parishes during Masses this weekend.
The film tells the story of the Boston Globe reporters who broke the story in 2002, and it reveals “a painful, shameful part of Catholic history in our country,” Zubik wrote in the statement.
“I offer my apology to and lift up in my daily prayers all those who have been harmed by someone who was entrusted to represent Christ,” Zubik wrote.
“The church has learned from the mistakes of the past while working diligently to ensure that what is portrayed in this movie never happens again. Since 1988, our Diocese of Pittsburgh has followed a policy of zero tolerance, of removing any cleric who sexually abused a minor.”
Although the church has worked to address any accusations, Zubike wrote, “we know that victims-survivors continue to suffer great pain.”
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