“We, who should have taken salvation to the ‘little ones’, have sometimes become the instruments of evil against them”. The words spoken by the bishop on behalf of all the world’s bishops resounded in the Roman Church of Sant’Ignazio, which last night hosted a penitential liturgy officiated by card. Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregations for the Bishops. It was the highlight of the international symposium that is taking place in Rome about the sex abuse within the Church, which is being attended by bishops and religious superiors from all over the world. Forgiveness was asked for, in a climate of silence and darkness, by a cardinal, a bishop, an educator, a superior, a priest, a religious man, a devotee. “We have sinned – the bishop stated –, we have failed to listen to the pain of lots of “little ones”. And he added: “We felt fear and horror for the sin that hurt us, because we did not trust Your promise”. “Our mouths, which should have announced the Gospel – the bishop went on –, are shut by pain and shame; our hands, which should have been imposed to heal the sick, are tied up and powerless. Here we are, humiliated in front of You and in front of man, crucified by the evil that defaced Your Church. We are aware that our remedies will never efface the unfair things that have been done nor will they soothe the burning wound in our conscience”. (continued)

08/02/2012 -