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 offenses. There are many people hurting in our Catholic community from the pain caused by our past failings as a diocese, as well as the grievous actions of some who ministered in our Church,” Rozanski wrote. “So, before I ask anything of you, let me as your bishop be the first to apologize and ask your forgiveness. ”
The pastoral letter is the diocese’s first to include a formal apology for Springfield’s priest sexual abuse scandal, Rozanski said, though Rozanski has previously expressed sympathy for abuse victims. The Diocese has paid out over $12 million to dozens of abuse victims for the actions of clergy like former Bishop Thomas Dupre, who resigned in 2004 after the Republican reported that two former altar boys had accused him of sexual abuse.
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