Church has much to do to restore trust, Boston cardinal says on sex-abuse scandal's 5th

In a Jan. 7 feast of the Epiphany "op-ed piece" that ran in the Boston Globe,Cardinal Sean O'Malley said that the abuse scandal "shook theArchdiocese of Boston and the wider community," but the exposure of the"truth of the abuse had to be confronted."

"God came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ to lift us outof the darkness of sin," he said. "Only with the truth of clergy sexualabuse exposed could we again seek to walk fully in his light."

In the column entitled "Rebuilding faith, five years on," the cardinalapologized to those then-young people who were abused by Catholicclergy and asked for their forgiveness.

"On my own behalf and on behalf of the good and faithful men, women,clergy and religious of our archdiocese, I again express my mostheartfelt apology to all the children and young people, most nowadults, who were abused by priests or other representatives of thechurch," he said. "We will forever be sorry for the harm you havesuffered and humbly ask your forgiveness.

Cardinal O'Malley said that the "wounded hearts and shattered spirits"of the abused children have a "special claim on the church, the body ofChrist."

He noted the many "broken hearts and tear-filled eyes" he had seen ofthe family members of the abused as they shared "agonizing storiesabout your children, some of whom have even taken their own lives."

"You trusted and loved your priests unconditionally," he said. "Tragically, that trust was betrayed.

Cardinal O'Malley said that the clergy sexual abuse scandal has impacted both parishioners and "faith-filled priests."

"They have borne the shame, grief and confusion of these devastatingrevelations with heroic faith," he said. "For the clergy and parents,in particular, the ability to impart the gift of faith to children hasbeen especially challenging."

For the community at large, he added, "the scandal of clergy sexual abuse has given rise to anger and mistrust."

The cardinal recalled that in 2002, as the Catholic Church marked thefeast of the Epiphany celebrating "the manifestation of God's love forall humanity," the archdiocese was hit with "the devastatingrevelations that Catholic clergy had sexually abused children."

"The contrast between the feast, which celebrates the light of Christ,and the dark and unremitting truth of clergy sexual abuse seemed, atfirst, impossible to accept," he said.

"But the truth of the abuse had to be confronted. These crimes againstchildren were all the more heinous because they were committed by menwho vowed themselves to emulate Christ, and were further enabled by thefailure of the Church leadership to respond appropriately," he said.

The archdiocese has learned much over the last five years aboutimplementing programs and policies to ensure the safety of children"due to the generosity of so many who have committed themselves to therebuilding of the church," the cardinal said.

Yet, he added, there is much "to be done to regain confidence and trust."

"We must, and will, continue our vigilance and improve on theseefforts," Cardinal O'Malley said. "Nothing less is acceptable. Ourresponsibility to children and families is paramount."

He offered "hope and prayer" that adequate protection will beimplemented in other societal settings "where children depend upon thecare of adults."