April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
DALLAS Prayer service buoys Bishop for 'critical meeting'
He was referring to the June 13-15 meeting in Dallas of all the American bishops at which they will deal with the issue of clergy sexual abuse of children.
The prayer service, June 8 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, was attended by about 150 people. It consisted of hymns, psalms, prayers, readings, a Litany of the Saints and a homily by Rev. Leo O'Brien, vicar general of the Diocese and pastor of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany (see page 8 for excerpts).
Getting input
Near the conclusion of the service, Bishop Hubbard told the congregation that he was "deeply honored and humbled by your presence."He told how he had been meeting with various constituencies in the Diocese -- priests, teachers, diocesan employees, parishioners and others -- to listen to their thoughts on what the bishops should do. He has also received input through letters sent to him in response to his Pentecost pulpit letter in which invited Catholics to write to him.
"I've heard anger, hurt, shame, embarrassment and the sense of betrayal that so many have," he said of the mail. "People have opened themselves and poured out their lives to me. It's been beneficial and helpful but also painful to read. It's a significant contribution that I will take with me to Dallas."
God's hands
Noting that both the Church and the general public have been "rocked by this scandal," the Bishop said it exemplified "the type of evil, described in Scripture, that can only be overcome by prayer and fasting. We must pray for the courage to admit our responsibility and complicity."He also solicited prayers that the bishops would develop the needed policies "so that this never happens again in our Church, so that children will be protected, so that victims will be reconciled and so that credibility will be restored to the Church."
If the scandal results in the Church being more humble and prayerful, as well as more of a servant and more open to lay involvement, he concluded, "that may be the silver lining."
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