April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.

Diocese ready to pray about abuse

By KAREN DIETLEIN- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment
Diocese ready to pray about abuse At the end of their meeting on clergy sex abuse, held in Dallas in June, the U.S. Catholic bishops agreed to designate August 14-15 as days of fasting and repentance in response to the scandal.<p id="h0-p1" class="permalinkable"> As noted in last week's issue of The Evangelist, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has extended an invitation to Catholics in the Albany Diocese to accompany him in prayer on those dates.<p id="h0-p2" class="permalinkable"> August 14 will serve as a day of fasting and penitence; August 15 has been chosen as a day of prayer.<p id="h0-p3" class="permalinkable"> "The bishops have accepted responsibility for the errors they committed," said Elizabeth Simcoe, director of the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship. "They agreed to do penance on these days in order to express their sorrow."<p id="h0-p4" class="permalinkable"> Although the bishops' prayer will center on healing for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse, they will also include intercessions for offenders, prayers for parishioners directly affected by the actions of a priest or bishop, and petitions for a spirit of repentance and forgiveness throughout the Church.<p id="h0-p5" class="permalinkable"> Parishes that wish to join in prayer may do so by:<p id="h0-p6" class="permalinkable"> * including intercessions and prayers for repentance and forgiveness during Masses on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption (a holy day); and<p id="h0-p7" class="permalinkable"> * encouraging morning or evening prayer services to provide an opportunity for parishioners to communally offer prayers for the healing of victims, for reconciliation and for the forgiveness of sins.<p id="h0-p8" class="permalinkable"> Ms. Simcoe also suggested ways for individuals to become involved:<p id="h0-p9" class="permalinkable"> * on August 14, Catholics can fast (eating only one full meal);<p id="h0-p10" class="permalinkable"> * informal Bible-sharing and prayer groups can use the day's readings and prayers as centering points; and<p id="h0-p11" class="permalinkable"> * anyone can read from Scripture passages prepared by the Office of Prayer and Worship for victims and their families: 2 Samuel 13:1-4...Psalms 22 and 126...Matthew 2:16-18; for offenders: Psalms 32 and 51...Ezekiel 34:7-16; and for the Church: Psalms 25, 28, 31 and 51...1 Peter 2:21-24. <p id="h0-p12" class="permalinkable">(08-01-02) [[In-content Ad]]<!-- 20020801abus.htm --></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p>

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