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1. What is a scandal?
2. What is the Church’s response to the scandals?
3. How do we know if the Diocese successfully passes its annual compliance review?
4. Has the Church apologized for the sexual abuse scandals?
5. What has the Church done to keep our children safe?
6. Are the sacraments valid when performed by a cleric who is involved in the scandal?
7. Why should we still trust the teaching authority of the Bishops (or the Pope, the Bishop of Rome) given such scandal?
8. Should I remain in the Church and in the Catholic faith?
9. What can I do about the scandal?
10. How do I report abuse?
11. Are there Masses or prayer services in the diocese to express reparation and ask for healing? Will parishioners and victims of abuse be welcome?
There are several responses to these questions. First, yes, these will be recurring. Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent will continue to be a day of Prayer and Penance for individuals and for parishes that are willing and able to organize their own events.
Second, it is not necessary for anyone to identify himself or herself as either parishioner or victim when coming to a public parish prayer-event. Where it can be done, it should be done with great care and consent.
Third, it is unfortunate if we think that the Penitential Rite at each Mass is somehow disconnected from, or inadequate for, the ongoing healing of victim/survivors and reparation by the whole Church. It provides a moment for us to call to mind things that added to Jesus’s suffering on the Cross.