EAST LONGMEADOW "“ Thomas F. Cronin of Simsbury, Conn. made the half-hour drive to St. Michael's Parish for Saturday's Mass specifically to hear Rev. James J. Scahill, who attracted international attention this week for suggesting that Pope Benedict XVI should resign if he does not take stronger action to confront the church's sexual abuse scandal.

Cronin, who said "it's hard to be Catholic," said he will be coming to St. Michael's from now on, and called Scahill "great."

"What did he know and when did he know it," Cronin, 52, said about the pope.

Parishioners such as Robert T. and Nancy H. Menczywor and James P. and Ruth S. Connor said they agreed with what Scahill said at last week's sermon regarding the pope; so did a handful of other parishioners who declined to give their names.

"Somebody has to speak the truth," Nancy Menczywor said.

The Connors said Scahill received a standing ovation last week. Ruth Connor, 77, said Scahill's comments were "wonderful" and "truthful."

"Where's the other priests? Why aren't they saying something?" Ruth Connor said.

"We're lucky to have him," she said about Scahill. "I don't think it's about Father Scahill at all. It's about the victims. They're suffering. We as a congregation feel sad about the situation."

John M. Bowen, 74, of Longmeadow, said he started going to St. Michael's eight years ago, and said Scahill is on the right track. Bowen said he is a member of Voice of the Faithful, a group that formed in 2002 in response to the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church. Scahill has been outspoken in his criticism of how the church has handled clergy sexual abuse cases.

Richard P. Samolis, 79, of Enfield, said Scahill is a special individual who "tries to tell the truth at his peril."

Michael D. and Amy A. Smith, who had their 5-month-old baby Mackenzie with them, said they also support Scahill.

"I think it's great what he said. Because it's the Catholic church, people have a hard time when someone stands up against the church. We stood and cheered like everyone else," Michael Smith said.

Not everyone appreciated Scahill's comments. A conservative Catholic group from Dedham, the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, has said Scahill should apologize, and one parishioner called him a heretic for criticizing the pope.

Scahill made mention of the past week's events at the start of Mass on Saturday afternoon in the crowded church. The priest said he has spoken to media from around the world as a result of his sermons last week.

"This has been a hectic week . . . I have spent endless hours communicating with survivors, reading endless e-mails, taking phone calls and speaking with the media . . . First, this is not a Father Jim Scahill story. It is strictly a story about the atrocities that have taken place and the dire need to heal the church by eradicating any and all individuals who played a role in these atrocities . . .